Cats In Space - Too Many Gods

Cats In Space Too Many Gods cover
Cats In Space
Too Many Gods
Harmony Factory/Cargo Records
2015
8.5
Cats In Space are an interesting proposition I must admit. They’re a 70s inspired rock band that has great scope and almost enough talent to pull of that impressive melodic hard rock they are attempting to do. Think, ELO and Cheap Trick with sprinkles of Queen and 10cc… many of the band members have previously worked with such acts as: The Sweet, Asia, T’Pau, Ian Gillan Band, Mike Oldfield, Airrace & Arena to name a few, so their musicianship and performances are second to none…
 
But all this could be irrelevant if the songwriting was not up to the same high level and I am happy to report that “Too Many Gods” is choke full of great songs. There’s so much 70s rock goodness in here, that it’s kinda mind boggling…
 
“Arrival” is the short intro to “Too Many Gods”, which is a classy and exhilarating opener with luscious keys and a general up-tempo heartiness… and is quite relevant in today’s crazy world we’re living in.
 
Stop” is somewhat mocking the same craziness that seems to distract us from everything important and has as totally indulging in superficial stuff and “following” silly trends… it’s a bit of perfect power pop-rock...
 
“Last Man Standing” is a bit more laid back and has these sorts of ELO-ey melodies that make it even more endearing…
 
And when you expected the band to run out of steam after some 3 pretty excellent tunes, they strike back with “Mr. Heartache”, the lead single of the album that’s co-written by Mick Wilson of 10cc fame, who seems to be quite present over the album in more than one occasions and also features a guest appearance by Andy Scott of Sweet. And it’s just great!
 
And the hits just keep coming, “Unfinished Symphony” maybe more “American” and a bit more laid back, but still...
 
“Schoolyard Fantasy” is a typical 70s brit rocker with a slightly melancholic vibe that blooms in an almost triumphant way towards the end… unfortunately it’s a CD exclusive due to time constraints, I imagine, of the vinyl...
 
“The Greatest Story Never Told” with orchestra arranged and composed by Mike Moran and Mick Wilson guesting on vocals shows young pretenders how it’s done. Vocals par excellence and excellent harmonies, the orchestra used in an exemplary fashion and a song which unfolds in a predictable, but also grandiose way that is so well complimented by the vocal acrobatics it ends up sounding adventurous. It,s a self-contained musical, if you wish and it,s smashing!
 
“Only in Vegas” isn’t too bad and it’s extremely melodic and pleasant, but it just can’t antagonize the preceding songs… but its feel-good character and tasteful use of vocoders (that reminded me of what Daft Punk did on their latest and very organic “RAM” opus) sort of carries the song along quite nicely.
 
Mick Wilson returns once more for “Man in the Moon” and it’s another little piece of melodic genius, although I love a track by the same name by Wig Wam, way more… still...
 
“Five-Minute Celebrity” is snipping and pokes fun at all those, “by association or relation” celebrities that are not achievers, but have some pretty lame claims to fame… while it’s good, its didactic tone is possibly making it one of the least enjoyable tracks on the album…
 
Last but not least, “Velvet Horizon” is a very heartfelt, piano ballad, about the melancholy and loneliness of the artist, when the curtains fall and he has to come down from cloud nine, into the mortal coil… from rock god to norman normal… it’s quite to the point and you can feel the agony and depression in it…
 
The band says, this album is “all killer, no kitty litter!”(!?!?!?), and I tend to agree with them, although I’m not entirely sure what they mean. This album really pleasantly surprised me and if you like 70s/80s melodic rock with big harmonies, great vocals and solid songwriting, you should immediately check these “cats” out…