eMusic Review 0

eMusic Contributor

09.05.08

A white-knuckle prog-punk thrill ride

2008 | Label: Akoustik Anarkhy / IODA

Courtcase 2000, the white-knuckle debut from Manchester quartet Cats In Paris, reveales no discernible trace of restraint or calculation. Bursting with complex chord progressions, instrumental interludes, shifting time signatures and ambient soundscapes, the album combines the musical grandiosity of prog with the emotional range of a musical; indeed, it's easy to imagine the band members 'parents as fans of Tommy and Hair. Fortunately Cats In Paris also display enough post-punk attitude and goofiness to avoid the pitfalls of pretentiousness, self-absorption and sentimentality.

Cats In Paris have been compared to Arcade Fire, Four Tet and Simian, but Courtcase 2000 makes these outfits sound utterly conventional. Punky growls and choral breakdowns are interspersed with spoken-word interludes and comical shouts of "Cold products! Hot Dog!" Emotive strings fuse with resonant guitar progressions, geek-funk synth lines and atonal pile-ups. Highlights include "Foxes", "Castle Walls", "Goojfc" and "Loose Tooth Tactile."

A delightful surprise: 4.5/5

Indie + prog + synthesizers + humor = courtcase 2000. I really love this album. Herein, you'll find: male/female vocals that play off of each other, 8-bit keyboard influences, violin loops, cool time signatures, and much more. My only complaint with the album is the two "button" tracks. I've listened to this album many times and in all kinds of moods, and never once have I enjoyed them. In response to the comments raised by the reviewer below, I have been listening to this album off and on for almost a year, and I've not grown tired of it yet. Not to say that another person won't, but it hasn't become irritating, boring, or trite yet. This is a rather goofy album that seems not to take itself too seriously. If that kind of thing bugs you, I'd steer clear.

Everything he said...

... inventive, refreshing, catchy and nonsense. But, they're both it's best and worst traits. The first listen you'll be bowled over, after the third of fourth, it'll sound trite, tired and dull. The stuff that's refreshing and nonsense will become boring and irritating. A good album, but not one with any longevity, which is a shame.

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logic1000

MikePearce

Insane.

willburton

Incredibly inventive, refreshingly genre-defying, catchy, and utter utter nonsense. Every song is a miniature prog masterpiece, albeit played by the terminally insane. Fairly terrible lyrics by the way - but that doesnt exactly matter when they're squealed out with such playful lunacy.