Gang Mentality T
Girl-group throwback Cat’s Eyes rock houses of the holy / by Jeanne Fury
raditionally, a band’s first gig takes place in a
basement or other dilapidated establishment, and the crowd consists of a few supportive friends and a less-than-stoked bartender. On the surface, Cat’s Eyes aren’t one for tradition. First off, the duo consists of Faris Badwan, frontman of British gothrockers the Horrors, and Canadian-born opera singer/ classically trained instrumentalist Rachel Zeffira. Second, the band popped its cherry in St. Peter’s Basilica. No, that’s not a hip new underground club in Brooklyn—it’s the St. Peter’s. As in Vatican City. To hell with tradition! In actuality, Cat’s Eyes comply with one of the most timeless rock ’n’ roll standards: the girl group. “In spite of our seemingly really different musical backgrounds, there were parallels, especially with girl groups,” says Zeffira. Cat’s Eyes take the sounds of producers like Phil Spector and Joe Meek, and filter them through a foreboding rain cloud with the help of a full orchestra. Like a Hitchcock film, their debut, self-titled album feels both sinister and romantic. Lust and heartbreak photo by chris cunningham
permeate the lush, stylish tunes.
“When I listened to the lyrics [of girlgroup hits], I was really surprised at how dark the songs are,” notes Zeffira. “There were girl fights, people running away from home, boyfriends dying. We didn’t set
out to write anything dark; we wanted to write simple lyrics that everyone could relate to. That allowed us to be more creative with the arrangements.” The permission to explore was a thrill for Zeffira, an opera soprano. “It was so liberating to sing in a natural voice without rules or thinking about my diaphragm,” she laughs. “I didn’t have to sing someone else’s music. I didn’t have to follow conductors’ suggestions.” So far, Cat’s Eyes have managed to impress some tough critics. Remember the gig at the Vatican? “[The attendees] were under the impression that [the song] was something sacred, and that’s how we wanted it to sound,” says Zeffira. “The Cardinals really liked it.”
Cat’s Eyes
Available Now [ Rough Trade ]
More at catseyesmusic.com. COWBELL
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