I haven't written a music review in a very long time, but on looking through the site could only see one review about The Cat Empire, so thought I better beef up their presence. If you're after mainstream indie rock, this may not be the band, or the album, for you. But, if you are open to a wide variety of musical styles and cultures, and enjoy a good chilled out tune, these are the boys for you. Don't get me wrong, they do a fine line in rocking out - but it's overtaken by some fantastic, more exotic influences.

The current 6-piece line up started playing together in 2001, and started out playing late night jazz venues down under, and just took it from there. They have been big in Australia for some time now, mainly through hard work, endless gigging, and word of mouth. I was first introduced to this album by a friend who had been travelling in Australia, and realised it was something special. I've always had a passion for 'real' music, something made predominantly by human hand, nurtured, with tender loving care, and that reaches that special place in the soul. Not everyone appreciates music in the same way, I think it comes down to 20 years spent playing musical instruments on my part. Exceptional music has always had the ability to penetrate my very being, and once I'd seen the hits from this and the first album played live, I knew that The Cat Empire would always be at the top of my list.

I'm not usually someone who notices lyrics in songs, unless they are particularly ridiculous, but this one is a sing-a-long favourite of mine. Harry sings of his time at school, where basically he's a teenage boy - sitting in the park, eating chips and drinking beer, and generally being distracted. It goes through a school week, listing problems such as trying to talk to Fontaine, class hotty, and how it all gets in the way of his homework. He also explains his dream of buying a car, making it start, and some day, driving his car - and being able to do whatever he wants. Move forward ten years, to where he is still in the park, and meets high school geek, now turned successful rich lawyer, married to Fontaine. Harry, is now still dreaming of his car, and can't think of anything better to do than sit at his keyboard and write us this tune. The song itself is up tempo, has some lovely harmonies, and is very repetitive, but in the way you get the impression of being driven along - great for a song called the Car Song.

Track 5: Two Shoes

Almost an anti-climax after the energising Two Shoes, starting with a simple mixture of keyboard and piano, but give it time. Felix's vocals follow, and then a simple drum beat. Next up comes the introduction of brass and a female vocal line for the chorus. There is then a breathtakingly beautiful mixture of trumpet and xylophone (or glockenspiel, can never remember which one is the metal one!) It is written in a minor key, which is never going to give the most upbeat sound. This is a slow one, and perhaps one to skip if you're not into more orchestral type arrangements. It's still really well thought out and brought together exceptionally well, using a variety of additional vocalists and instrumentalists - or some clever recording work.

This is a nice, catchy little number, with some amazing scratching being the highlight of the introduction. It makes great use of samples, a much more electronic sounding keyboard and some really dirty sounding brass riffs to create something a lot more playful sounding. It could almost be placed in the background of something like an Inspector Gadget cartoon - but one for the more high brow music fan than the sugar dosed child. Felix's sing-rap style once again provide a great lyrical line. A great song to get that Party Started, even with it's distinctively jazzy feel.

Track 9: Protons, Neutrons, Electrons

Tracking down the albums isn't that easy on the high street. Their website has the whole back catalogue for sale, along with a range of goodies - but bear in mind it has to be sent from Australia. HMV, play.com and Itunes - as well as most other usual suspects I guess, also have them on the website - they just don't seem to be popular with the shop visiting public. This particular album seems to be selling for around the £10 mark - just makes sure if you download it that you get the album, and not just the single as it's got the same name! :)