Cats Park

Oddly, when I think of Cat’s Park, I think of the TV series “House M.D.”

In every episode of House, there is a climax at the end where a character must face a problem head on and find closure within themselves or with other characters in the story. Usually in these sequences, the musical score is top notch.

I can easily picture the melodies of Cat’s Park fitting into some of these moments. This is a very thought provoking band that is akin to sitting in a dimly-lit, smokey lounge; staring wistfully into a near empty glass of wine while a romantic couple next to you is making out. You’re alone, but you won’t be forever. There’s an element of loss, yet hope. I love this kind of setting.

Jazz vocalist Faijee reminds me of a pained “Feist” as she eloquently laments over a smooth, seductive trip rock beat. Her poetry centers around human relationships and I can tell that she’s been in some pretty dark places during her time on this rock. That raw experience is projected through her Portishead-esque verses and sultry melodies.

The accompanying music from Alexey Andreev is quite sparse, full of confident spaces where not alot is happening. For many artists, this is a tough element to master. Some musicians even tend to overcompensate within these spaces, as if silence is awkward and they need to fill it with whatever they can. Cat’s Park does not do this. You’ll hear a huge influence from bands like Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, and maybe even Moby. These kinds of musicians practically revere the art of space. The whole ‘less is more’ concept has never worked better than it does with Cat’s Park. There are groovy bass lines, jazzy piano work and meandering guitar lines. You’ll even be graced with a sudden loud, gritty electric guitar riff midway through. In this penultimate moment, Faijee deviates from her sultry flavour and jumps into aggressive spoken word, like a waif-ish Henry Rollins. A pleasant surprise, indeed.

What really intrigued me about Cat’s Park is their approach to writing. Faijee and Alexey wrote as a duo, and
recruited other musicians later who became acquainted with the finished work. This resulted in something unique; the musicians were able to bring their own expressive flavour at live shows, causing the sound to be different. Still great, but different.

If I had one complaint about the album, (And I use the term “complaint” very loosely.) It would be the variance from track to track. As I lost myself in the album, the transtitions from song to song were so seamless that I could barely tell when one song ended and the other began. Some may call that a sign of great concept writing. Some would disagree. I’m not of the latter opinion.

“Face The Future” is a passionate forray into mood and poetry. I recommend sprawling out on the couch with a glass of your favorite wine and letting the fine music of Cat’s Park do what it’s meant to do, which is to simply move and relax you.

Or you can stick an episode of House M.D. on mute, fast forward it up to the last five minutes of the show, and have yourself a Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz moment. - The Signal

Oddly, when I think of Cat’s Park, I think of the TV series “House M.D.”

In every episode of House, there is a climax at the end where a character must face a problem head on and find closure within themselves or with other characters in the story. Usually in these sequences, the musical score is top notch.

I can easily picture the melodies of Cat’s Park fitting into some of these moments. This is a very thought provoking band that is akin to sitting in a dimly-lit, smokey lounge; staring wistfully into a near empty glass of wine while a romantic couple next to you is making out. You’re alone, but you won’t be forever. There’s an element of loss, yet hope. I love this kind of setting.

Jazz vocalist Faijee reminds me of a pained “Feist” as she eloquently laments over a smooth, seductive trip rock beat. Her poetry centers around human relationships and I can tell that she’s been in some pretty dark places during her time on this rock. That raw experience is projected through her Portishead-esque verses and sultry melodies.

The accompanying music from Alexey Andreev is quite sparse, full of confident spaces where not alot is happening. For many artists, this is a tough element to master. Some musicians even tend to overcompensate within these spaces, as if silence is awkward and they need to fill it with whatever they can. Cat’s Park does not do this. You’ll hear a huge influence from bands like Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, and maybe even Moby. These kinds of musicians practically revere the art of space. The whole ‘less is more’ concept has never worked better than it does with Cat’s Park. There are groovy bass lines, jazzy piano work and meandering guitar lines. You’ll even be graced with a sudden loud, gritty electric guitar riff midway through. In this penultimate moment, Faijee deviates from her sultry flavour and jumps into aggressive spoken word, like a waif-ish Henry Rollins. A pleasant surprise, indeed.

What really intrigued me about Cat’s Park is their approach to writing. Faijee and Alexey wrote as a duo, and
recruited other musicians later who became acquainted with the finished work. This resulted in something unique; the musicians were able to bring their own expressive flavour at live shows, causing the sound to be different. Still great, but different.

If I had one complaint about the album, (And I use the term “complaint” very loosely.) It would be the variance from track to track. As I lost myself in the album, the transtitions from song to song were so seamless that I could barely tell when one song ended and the other began. Some may call that a sign of great concept writing. Some would disagree. I’m not of the latter opinion.

“Face The Future” is a passionate forray into mood and poetry. I recommend sprawling out on the couch with a glass of your favorite wine and letting the fine music of Cat’s Park do what it’s meant to do, which is to simply move and relax you.

Or you can stick an episode of House M.D. on mute, fast forward it up to the last five minutes of the show, and have yourself a Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz moment. - The Signal

Hailing from St. Petersburg, Russia, CatsPark is a subtle mix of pop and rock music. Never quite breaking loose they remind one of bands like Lush and especially the Cocteau Twins with their full sound that bends and twist in unexpected directions. Faijee, vocals are dreamy and airy will lending a bit (phonetic tones) to the English words that give her voice a distinct vocal sound much like Bjork. Bits of dreamy pop with a laid back feel that swells into cascades of sound that reach higher and higher. All the while taking on a harder edge much in the vein of Loop yet they always returns to the pop origins of the music. Time to Quit has hints of Sade with the smoky female vocals but quickly evolves into a psychedelic, dreamy sound.
Though few submissions come from bands from this part of the world Cat Park is by far the best that have submitted to date. Many of the artists sound dated but not so with CatsPark. A mix of electronic, psychedelic, with bits of dreamy soundscapes that work exceptionally well as they create moods that have elements of rock, jazz, psychedelic which they combine into an airy mix of subtle sounds.
Faijee is a contuse singer for a new generation, sexy, rocking, mysterious, soulful. The band is equal to the task delivering on each track without over reaching or creating an overblown sound.
CatsPark is a fine new band from a part of the world that is not known for great bands but that has all changed. There is a subtle pleasure in listening to CatsPark that the Cocteau Twins also created with their majestic lp Treasure. CatsPark is not copying, no they are reinventing and with wonderful warm and fuzzy affect. - New Classic Music for Tomorrow

Hailing from St. Petersburg, Russia, CatsPark is a subtle mix of pop and rock music. Never quite breaking loose they remind one of bands like Lush and especially the Cocteau Twins with their full sound that bends and twist in unexpected directions. Faijee, vocals are dreamy and airy will lending a bit (phonetic tones) to the English words that give her voice a distinct vocal sound much like Bjork. Bits of dreamy pop with a laid back feel that swells into cascades of sound that reach higher and higher. All the while taking on a harder edge much in the vein of Loop yet they always returns to the pop origins of the music. Time to Quit has hints of Sade with the smoky female vocals but quickly evolves into a psychedelic, dreamy sound.
Though few submissions come from bands from this part of the world Cat Park is by far the best that have submitted to date. Many of the artists sound dated but not so with CatsPark. A mix of electronic, psychedelic, with bits of dreamy soundscapes that work exceptionally well as they create moods that have elements of rock, jazz, psychedelic which they combine into an airy mix of subtle sounds.
Faijee is a contuse singer for a new generation, sexy, rocking, mysterious, soulful. The band is equal to the task delivering on each track without over reaching or creating an overblown sound.
CatsPark is a fine new band from a part of the world that is not known for great bands but that has all changed. There is a subtle pleasure in listening to CatsPark that the Cocteau Twins also created with their majestic lp Treasure. CatsPark is not copying, no they are reinventing and with wonderful warm and fuzzy affect. - New Classic Music for Tomorrow

From the second largest Russian city comes a band that is one dose electronic music, and half a dose Rock & Roll. Based out of Saint Petersburg, Cats Park are currently making waves in the ocean of Trip Hop (a genre of music known for down tempo electronic music with elements of classic psychedelic rock). But bass guitar player Alexey Andreev and power vocalist Faijee aren’t ready to contain themselves in one box of music just yet. Their latest single “Safety” (released December 4, 2012) is once again another example of the variation of Trip Hop that the veteran musicians of Cats Park are known for brining to the table.

Safety has your typical chilled out (and slowed down) electronic music meets rock feel. Layered on top of this are the vocals of Faijee, who just elegantly rides the pop/rock melodies of the music like the experience vocalist she is. But here’s the twist. Safety has a sort of Funk inspired groove to it not typically found in the Trip Hop world. Adding a dash of Alto-Saxophone Cats Park manages to create an intense groove that really pulls the listener in. Melodically, Safety sounds like The Beatles meets Radiohead. A really pleasant piece of ear-candy. - Hub Pages

From the second largest Russian city comes a band that is one dose electronic music, and half a dose Rock & Roll. Based out of Saint Petersburg, Cats Park are currently making waves in the ocean of Trip Hop (a genre of music known for down tempo electronic music with elements of classic psychedelic rock). But bass guitar player Alexey Andreev and power vocalist Faijee aren’t ready to contain themselves in one box of music just yet. Their latest single “Safety” (released December 4, 2012) is once again another example of the variation of Trip Hop that the veteran musicians of Cats Park are known for brining to the table.

Safety has your typical chilled out (and slowed down) electronic music meets rock feel. Layered on top of this are the vocals of Faijee, who just elegantly rides the pop/rock melodies of the music like the experience vocalist she is. But here’s the twist. Safety has a sort of Funk inspired groove to it not typically found in the Trip Hop world. Adding a dash of Alto-Saxophone Cats Park manages to create an intense groove that really pulls the listener in. Melodically, Safety sounds like The Beatles meets Radiohead. A really pleasant piece of ear-candy. - Hub Pages

Saint-Petersburg, Russia-based Cat’s Park is one of those musical hives whose buzzy melodic hooks have yet to reach the furthest shores but given time and a spit shine they’ll be well on their way.
Their debut EP titled Face the Future was released in April of last year and features a band that has a good foothold on mixing the darker elements of trip-hop with the live band sounds of shoegazey alternative rock. Face the Future is a creeper that might take a bit of time to sink in due to it’s moody and dark rainy day pace, but eventually the chill begins to drop away and the soothing ethereal breath of Faijee’s haunting vocals, Massive Attack-like beats, heart thrumming keyboard tones, and Alexey Andreev deep basslines begin to take hold and keep you riveted. There are moments of undeniable beauty in Face the Future, especially in tracks like “Brand New Day” and “Closer”, both of which seem as though they would translate really well on stage. Aside from my own small issues with the pace and energy, Face the Future is a strong introduction to a band still taking its first steps.

And so here we are 8 months and a new year later and Cat’s Park are gearing up to show off their growth as a band with the release of their newest single titled “Safety”.
The first thing that springs to mind is the subtle step sideways the band has taken away from the trance inducing qualities that shaped Face the Future. Where that EP brought on a more smoldering dark moodiness encased in funk, hip-hop and ambiance, “Safety” veers more into upbeat territory with a stronger emphasis on rock and jazz. Faijee’s vocals are strong and in controlled doses, lending even more space for the band to shine along with her. (And the addition of a muted horn keeping things jazzy and sexed up is a big plus for this listener!) At about the 2 minute mark the song takes off in a rock direction, strongly bringing to mind The Bends era Radiohead, with its big guitar shredding and soloing bolstered by a heavy driving bass line. The reigns are then passed back to Faijee who cools it down and brings us back to earth in a gentle wrapping of cotton wool and as the last notes fade the realization hits that this ultra-cool track is over and I am left wanting more.

“Safety” is a concentrated move in a really good direction and if this is any indication of what is in store for Cat’s Park in 2013 then the future will be bright for these up and comers. - All Whats Rock

Saint-Petersburg, Russia-based Cat’s Park is one of those musical hives whose buzzy melodic hooks have yet to reach the furthest shores but given time and a spit shine they’ll be well on their way.
Their debut EP titled Face the Future was released in April of last year and features a band that has a good foothold on mixing the darker elements of trip-hop with the live band sounds of shoegazey alternative rock. Face the Future is a creeper that might take a bit of time to sink in due to it’s moody and dark rainy day pace, but eventually the chill begins to drop away and the soothing ethereal breath of Faijee’s haunting vocals, Massive Attack-like beats, heart thrumming keyboard tones, and Alexey Andreev deep basslines begin to take hold and keep you riveted. There are moments of undeniable beauty in Face the Future, especially in tracks like “Brand New Day” and “Closer”, both of which seem as though they would translate really well on stage. Aside from my own small issues with the pace and energy, Face the Future is a strong introduction to a band still taking its first steps.

And so here we are 8 months and a new year later and Cat’s Park are gearing up to show off their growth as a band with the release of their newest single titled “Safety”.
The first thing that springs to mind is the subtle step sideways the band has taken away from the trance inducing qualities that shaped Face the Future. Where that EP brought on a more smoldering dark moodiness encased in funk, hip-hop and ambiance, “Safety” veers more into upbeat territory with a stronger emphasis on rock and jazz. Faijee’s vocals are strong and in controlled doses, lending even more space for the band to shine along with her. (And the addition of a muted horn keeping things jazzy and sexed up is a big plus for this listener!) At about the 2 minute mark the song takes off in a rock direction, strongly bringing to mind The Bends era Radiohead, with its big guitar shredding and soloing bolstered by a heavy driving bass line. The reigns are then passed back to Faijee who cools it down and brings us back to earth in a gentle wrapping of cotton wool and as the last notes fade the realization hits that this ultra-cool track is over and I am left wanting more.

“Safety” is a concentrated move in a really good direction and if this is any indication of what is in store for Cat’s Park in 2013 then the future will be bright for these up and comers. - All Whats Rock

Created in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Cats Park is hard to define within a specified genre. A blend of rock and jazz rise to surface of their newly released single "Safety." Cats Park's epic tale can be traced back to 2010, when bass guitarist Alexey Andreev met vocalist, Faijee, who hauntingly sings on "Safety." Creativity and melodious lyrics would ensue from there as the two were able to engage sound engineer, Roman Urazov; as well as guitarist Roman Shatohin, keyboardist Alexander Alexeev and drummer Alexy Menshikov.

It is clear that Cats Park is adding to bands that have beckoned listeners with their expressive instrumentation and experimental sounds that range from trip-hop to intense sound mixtures. In April of 2012, Cats Park released their debut EP Face The Future, which included the piano driven "Your Love is a Sin," with its capitalization on Faijee's delicate and delightful tone moving with an appealing beat; and "Time to Quit," an acid jazz piece that is the epitome of great music. Cats Park's songs are visual to the listener as their intent is to acquaint each and everyone with a powerful combination of music with heart and lyrics that breathe freedom and thought-provoking wit. - Examiner

Created in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Cats Park is hard to define within a specified genre. A blend of rock and jazz rise to surface of their newly released single "Safety." Cats Park's epic tale can be traced back to 2010, when bass guitarist Alexey Andreev met vocalist, Faijee, who hauntingly sings on "Safety." Creativity and melodious lyrics would ensue from there as the two were able to engage sound engineer, Roman Urazov; as well as guitarist Roman Shatohin, keyboardist Alexander Alexeev and drummer Alexy Menshikov.

It is clear that Cats Park is adding to bands that have beckoned listeners with their expressive instrumentation and experimental sounds that range from trip-hop to intense sound mixtures. In April of 2012, Cats Park released their debut EP Face The Future, which included the piano driven "Your Love is a Sin," with its capitalization on Faijee's delicate and delightful tone moving with an appealing beat; and "Time to Quit," an acid jazz piece that is the epitome of great music. Cats Park's songs are visual to the listener as their intent is to acquaint each and everyone with a powerful combination of music with heart and lyrics that breathe freedom and thought-provoking wit. - Examiner

Not every band in Russia was sent to prison this year. Cat’s Park hail from Saint Petersburg and a successful 2012 has culminated the release of their latest single, Safety. The song recalls Portishead and the trip-hop heyday of the 90s. Faijee’s vocals are a hypnotic embodiment of sultry emotion that testify to her long history as a jazz musician. Alex Andreev produces the track. His understated melodies help create Cat’s Park’s signature sound.

Earlier in the year Cat’s Park released Face The Future, a five-track EP which help to promote the band’s alternative sound. The EP was co-produced by Christian Wright, whose collaborations include Muse, Keane and Franz Ferdinand. The work was done at the world famous Abbey Road studios and the final product help to cement Cat’s Park’s reputation as a serious contender on the European stage. Cat’s Park’s Bandcamp site showcases both the single and EP releeases. - Popbucket

Not every band in Russia was sent to prison this year. Cat’s Park hail from Saint Petersburg and a successful 2012 has culminated the release of their latest single, Safety. The song recalls Portishead and the trip-hop heyday of the 90s. Faijee’s vocals are a hypnotic embodiment of sultry emotion that testify to her long history as a jazz musician. Alex Andreev produces the track. His understated melodies help create Cat’s Park’s signature sound.

Earlier in the year Cat’s Park released Face The Future, a five-track EP which help to promote the band’s alternative sound. The EP was co-produced by Christian Wright, whose collaborations include Muse, Keane and Franz Ferdinand. The work was done at the world famous Abbey Road studios and the final product help to cement Cat’s Park’s reputation as a serious contender on the European stage. Cat’s Park’s Bandcamp site showcases both the single and EP releeases. - Popbucket

References to that of Patti Smith gone jazz with a Radiohead-esque backdrop just sounds like a great musical blend. Cats Park is a wonderful thing to have come out of Russia. You get music that sounds effortlessly produced on the group’s debut EP, Face the Future. While only being composed of five tracks it’s just enough talent that leads you to look up everything possible via Google or YouTube. Vocalist Faijee showcases her jazz background while blending her soft, sultry voice with heart to heart lyrics about relationships and love.

The driving force behind Cats Park are Faijee and bass guitarist Alexey Andreev. The two minds work as one. They create music that can also be compared to Zero 7 with a little more rock. It’s definitely a more relaxing style of music. Check out the live footage on YouTube and see what you think. If you like what you here then visit the band’s dedicated site to purchase the album. The duo is so cool they’ll even let you name your price. - Bite Me! Music + Fashion

Hailing from St Petersburg, Alex Andreev and Faijee, aka Cats Park, together craft a sound which fuses influences from a range of genres. Their journey from formation in early 2010 to the release of their debut EP Face the Future this year has played host to a freely creative environment, building on their prior experiences to make music that showcases their talents as musician and producer, and a jazz vocalist respectively.

Cats Park sound as melancholic and tranquil as they do prog-fuelled and trip-hop. Face the Future incorporates guitar work and rolling bass lines that The Cure would be proud of. Their sound strikes a chord with gothic rock and jazz at the same time; the use of subtle semi-tone progressions must be down to Faijee’s background from the latter, where Andreev’s focus takes the listener through as many genres as possible in the space of 20 minutes. The result is a musical mélange of rock, jazz, prog, down tempo, ambient and indie. Faijee is obviously a talented singer, and she spends the time gliding in-between vocal styles with the same effortlessness as Erykah Badu or Josa Peit. The fragmented production on the record adds to the constantly shifting sound, and is also likely to be influenced by the eclectic sonar palates of the group’s members (and producer). - Drunken Werewolf

Hailing from St Petersburg, Alex Andreev and Faijee, aka Cats Park, together craft a sound which fuses influences from a range of genres. Their journey from formation in early 2010 to the release of their debut EP Face the Future this year has played host to a freely creative environment, building on their prior experiences to make music that showcases their talents as musician and producer, and a jazz vocalist respectively.

Cats Park sound as melancholic and tranquil as they do prog-fuelled and trip-hop. Face the Future incorporates guitar work and rolling bass lines that The Cure would be proud of. Their sound strikes a chord with gothic rock and jazz at the same time; the use of subtle semi-tone progressions must be down to Faijee’s background from the latter, where Andreev’s focus takes the listener through as many genres as possible in the space of 20 minutes. The result is a musical mélange of rock, jazz, prog, down tempo, ambient and indie. Faijee is obviously a talented singer, and she spends the time gliding in-between vocal styles with the same effortlessness as Erykah Badu or Josa Peit. The fragmented production on the record adds to the constantly shifting sound, and is also likely to be influenced by the eclectic sonar palates of the group’s members (and producer). - Drunken Werewolf

St. Petersburg can either conjure up palm trees, expansive coasts and retirees, or if your mind itself is more expansive or steeped in history, you’ll think immediately of Russia’s second largest city, Saint Petersburg, that jewel of a place that lies on the River Neva, and is named after the czar who built it.

Cats Park, centered around Alex Andreev and Faijee, the duo from Saint Petersburg, Russia, has a sound that conjures some of the subtle magnificence of their home, with their unexpected blend of jazz, down tempo rock, trip hop, and ethereal. Unexpectedly, they’re also a band who know how to get all “MacGyver” on us before a set when emergencies occur.

Cats Park’s debut EP, “Face the Future”, which was released this spring, has a many-layered richness that belies the fact that the band has only been together for two years.

Cats Park often favor dreamy band stills with ruined porn graffiti walls, but they recommend the Hermitage as a place to visit, for its traditional, (and never boring), artistic dichotomy. Perhaps they too are fans of Nabokov, who was born in Saint Petersburg, whose writing was its own intensely beautiful language about unsavory topics, and of course Dostoyevsky, for his building up of dialectical arguments from the filthy walk ups, drunks and stolid poverty. - Sentimentalist Magazine

St. Petersburg can either conjure up palm trees, expansive coasts and retirees, or if your mind itself is more expansive or steeped in history, you’ll think immediately of Russia’s second largest city, Saint Petersburg, that jewel of a place that lies on the River Neva, and is named after the czar who built it.

Cats Park, centered around Alex Andreev and Faijee, the duo from Saint Petersburg, Russia, has a sound that conjures some of the subtle magnificence of their home, with their unexpected blend of jazz, down tempo rock, trip hop, and ethereal. Unexpectedly, they’re also a band who know how to get all “MacGyver” on us before a set when emergencies occur.

Cats Park’s debut EP, “Face the Future”, which was released this spring, has a many-layered richness that belies the fact that the band has only been together for two years.

Cats Park often favor dreamy band stills with ruined porn graffiti walls, but they recommend the Hermitage as a place to visit, for its traditional, (and never boring), artistic dichotomy. Perhaps they too are fans of Nabokov, who was born in Saint Petersburg, whose writing was its own intensely beautiful language about unsavory topics, and of course Dostoyevsky, for his building up of dialectical arguments from the filthy walk ups, drunks and stolid poverty. - Sentimentalist Magazine