Listen to Barricades HERE
The wonderfully fractured skank of Barricades starts off driven by an ominous piano riff hammered out via The Cat Empire’s keyboard master Ollie McGill that opens up into an ethereal vocal delivered by Harry Angus. The track then transforms into an urgent reggae funk with the rhythm section taking over before again breaking and heading back again into the ether. The band’s co-lead vocalist Felix Riebl shares, “Barricades is by far one of the most intricate and experimental songs on the album. On one hand it’s very, very dubby and hard hitting, then on the other it’s got this Miles Davis like quality to it with the horns on it. This is another fantastic track written by Harry that’s one of the heaviest on the album.”
The cover photo for Barricades showcases the work of Australian photographer Amy Mercer. The Sydney-based aerial and underwater photographer specialises in capturing the beauty of nature. The shot Summer Glisten was taken at Shelly Beach Rock Pool in January 2018 on a warm summer’s afternoon in Sydney’s south. Amy explains, “The beach lifestyle is a key element in Australian culture and is not only a place to take a dip, but a means of a rite of passage for any young Australian. It is a place to gather thoughts in times of crisis, a place to celebrate life and achievements; a place to socialise, exercise and relax; a place to overcome challenges and compete, a place to find solitude and love. It is no wonder that ocean living is an integral part of the country’s society.”
Open globally from now until January the 31st, 2019 the Stolen Diamonds pre-sale offer features a signed limited edition slip case for the CD version and a signed, die cut, limited edition sleeve for the vinyl version, complete with a limited run tote bag – perfect for completest collector fans. Fans can also pre-order the album as a Christmas gift for loved ones which includes delivery on December 25th of a note from the band, the first 6 singles already released and access to the January single a week in advance.
The Cat Empire have just wrapped up a mammoth European tour themselves which saw multiple sold out dates in various cities across the continent to rave reviews and including a live performance on Berlin TV which can be viewed HERE, and went out to 160million viewers. The band have returned for some special shows at home throughout December, ending the year at Woodford Festival and NZ Rhythm and Alps, and then into the New Year with 3 sold out shows at Melbourne Zoo.
With streams and YouTube views of the tracks and accompanying 360 video series released so far climbing into the millions, Stolen Diamonds is already shaping up to be one of the biggest chapters in the band’s career yet.
The Cat Empire – Stolen Diamonds is out on Two Shoes Records, Feb 15th, 2019
THE CAT EMPIRE
2018 WORLD TOUR DATES
AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND DATES:
Saturday 1st December, Inland Sea Of Sound, Bathurst, NSW
tickets click here
Friday 14th December, The Cat Empire Carnivale at Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, WA
With Odette, Grievous Bodily Calm, Lucy Peach & more to be announced (18+)
tickets click here
Saturday 15th December, The Cat Empire Carnivale at Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle, WA
With Odette, Grievous Bodily Calm, Lucy Peach & more to be announced (18+)
tickets click here
Sunday 16th December, Caves House, Yallingup, WA
Supported by Odette
tickets click here
Friday 28th December, Woodford Folk Festival, Sunshine Coast, QLD
tickets click here
Saturday 29th December, Rhythm & Alps Festival, Wanaka, New Zealand
tickets click here
Friday 15th February Zoo Twilights, Melbourne, VIC– (SOLD OUT!)
tickets click here
Saturday 16th February Zoo Twilights, Melbourne, VIC (SOLD OUT!)
tickets click here
Sunday 17th February Zoo Twilights, Melbourne, VIC (SOLD OUT!)
tickets click here
NORTH AMERICAN DATES (2019):
Thursday 28th February, Brooklyn NY – Brooklyn Steel
tickets click here
Friday 1st March, Philadelphia PA – Theatre of Living Arts
tickets click here
Saturday 2nd March, Boston MA – Royale
tickets click here
Sunday 3rd March, Quebec QC – Capitole
tickets click here
Monday 4th March, Montreal QC – MTELUS
tickets click here
Tuesday 5th March, Montreal QC – MTELUS
tickets click here
Thursday 7th March, Toronto ON – Danforth Music Hall
tickets click here
Friday, 8th March, Waterloo Ontario – Maxwell’s Music House
tickets click here
Saturday 9th March, Chicago IL – House of Blues
tickets click here
Monday 11th March, Minneapolis MN – Varsity Theatre
tickets click here
Tuesday 12th March, Winnipeg MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
tickets click here
Thursday 14th March, Edmonton AB – Winspear Centre
tickets click here
Friday 15th March, Calgary AB – MacEwan Hall
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Sunday 17th March, Vancouver BC – Commodore Ballroom
tickets click here
Monday 18th March, Vancouver BC – Commodore Ballroom
tickets click here
Tuesday 19th March, Victoria BC – Royal Theatre
tickets click here
Wednesday 20th March, Seattle WA – The Showbox
tickets click here
Thursday 21st March, Portland OR – Wonder Ballroom
tickets click here
Saturday 23rd March, San Francisco CA – The Fillmore
tickets click here
Monday 25th March, Los Angeles CA – El Rey Theatre
tickets click here
Tuesday 26th March, San Diego CA – House of Blues
tickets click here