Cat Temper - Hissteria
Review by Karl Magi
Overall Album Impressions
Cat Temper’s Hissteria is another superbly produced, intensely layered and extremely entertaining album from the king of cat puns and excellent synth-based music. This album is full of exuberance and fascinating synth tones and textures, complemented by a guitar that adds sharp edges and a melodic basis that carries the music forward. Once again, Cat Temper is innovative and full of surprises, making this an album worth returning to again and again.
One of the features I really enjoy about Hissteria is the way ‘80s power pop vibes are mixed with sounds that remind me of New Wave artists. The beat-driven low end blends with well-written melodies that sometimes lean toward an edgier side and other times feel more playful. The result evokes the past without becoming a pastiche. The music feels fresh, even while it proudly wears its retro influences.
Another reason I find Hissteria so entertaining is how Cat Temper intertwines all of his synth sounds with guitar and propulsive percussion to create an end result that’s full of dynamism and fascinating sonic moments. The interaction between the layers results in an album that’s hard to ignore as it weaves together different tonal and timbral elements into a cohesive and ear-pleasing whole.
I’m also enamoured with the album’s melodic content. Cat Temper has written catchy, fun melodies that also contain an emotional core and a sense of playfulness. Each melody is distinct and engaging, moving across different moods and expressions. There are little twists in the melodies I enjoy as Cat Temper throws curveballs that keep the interest level high.
My Favourite Tracks Analyzed
“Mewphoria” comes to life as a scintillating synth flies out with explosive bass and pounding drums. Now the electric guitar cuts in with fierce radiance as it drives powerfully. The synth continues to arc in electric brilliance as the low end seethes and tumbles. The bass is heavy as an intensely flashing synth calls out in a melody full of victorious liveliness.
The snare drum touches more lightly before the brilliant synth shimmers on. The guitar growls with ferocious dynamism. A worshipful choral sound moves before the guitar snarls and intertwines with the lucid synth. I am drawn to the freedom erupting from the track.
Slightly discordant, luminous synth slowly tumbles while blinding notes add accents. The guitar roars with dominating power now as the drums touch gently and the bass floats. Now the guitar charges with raw strength and a gruff edge as the drums pound again. The bass oscillates heavily and shadowy piano slams in as the bass continues to add a threatening feeling.
A slashing, glistening synth carries a worried melody to begin “Purromania.” As the melody moves on a tautly wound synth, a sense of growing power permeates the music. The guitar growls with intense vigour and the medium-high, glimmering synth carries a hauntingly powerful melody that moves above the pounding drums as they accelerate along with the raging guitar.
The snare drums and cymbals add even more dynamism as the elevated synth spins out in a melody with ominous import. Tension thrums through the music as the electrifying guitar charges and the pan pipes trickle with a melody that is both ghostly and fantastical. I am transported by the ancient-sounding melodic line while the ferocious low end cuts with unrelenting drama.
The pan pipes contribute gentle exhalations as a string-like synth descends to the depths. A twisting synth instrument bends through the music with a melody that whirls and cascades with wild abandon and something wistful within it. As the guitar snarls again, the luminous lead synth cries out and drifts with nervous and haunted sensations.
The guitar continues to rocket along with the leaping synth that swirls and dances with a baroque feeling above the maelstrom of guitar and drums. The leaping synth climbs for the stars before a piano-like synth trickles while strings strum. Now the beat subdivides and the piano sings out with a tender melody before the low end surges and the strings intermingle as the track ends.
“Another Hiss and Run” kicks off with a widely rambling synth that expands with echoing light. A flat-sounding drum beat moves with the slowly shifting, angular synth as it waves forward. The kick drum and bass lock into a steady heartbeat. The notes bounce with a twisting, nasal sound to carry a melody that is slightly aching but full of dynamic life.
Now the rebounding synth moves in undulating lines that suffuse the music with sunlight, while the drum beat continues to guide. The main melody sings on the diamond light of the synth, carrying me along on its dancing journey. The percussion drops away as the sparkling synth echoes into open space, while the bass continues to pulsate.
The drums return as the broadly moving synth shifts in incandescent waves. The bass descends and the synth bounces again, exuding gem-like illumination as the bright notes fly. Orchestra hits explode powerfully while a hollow-sounding synth flicks through the music with engaging liveliness. A medium-high, slightly distorted synth shimmers as the orchestra hits continue to erupt. Quickly tumbling notes fall through the music before the track falls silent.
“C’meow C’meow” begins with chimes that add with haunting light as the solid bass throbs heavily. A computerized-sounding synth moves in a melody that feels ghostly and dense, before the drums punch in. The melody wheels and spins with smooth life while the chiming notes flare with intense light.
The melody becomes easygoing and uplifting, filling me with a sense of relaxed happiness while the drums hit hard. The main melody is tinged with minor key tones, but remains full of progress and discovery. As the lead melody skips out, it fills the music with celebratory strength and a twirling note bends in the distance.
The piano flows through the music with levity and a feeling of pleasure, while the strings intertwine and sing with tenderness. The propulsive drums shift alongside a strangely wandering synth that wriggles as the snare drum pushes onward. Warm chords swell with summer light and the drums drive on. Now the track moves into a slow, wobbling pulse as the main melody continues on the computerized synth and the dark bass pulses smoothly. The melody cries out with frolicking joy as the track comes to an end.
A rushing drum beat and dense, active bass move together as “Demolition Kitten” opens. The open-voiced synth, with its digitized sound, dances in energizing motion as worshipful choir sounds flow in the distance. The low end is propulsive as the computerized synth flows past in uplifting motion. Rounded sounds float above the sweeping low end as it expands, while the drums and bass continue to punch hard.
The electric guitar lacerates with sharp edges as the smoother synth twirls along with it and the reverent, vocal-like synth calls in the distance. The different sonic layers intertwine lusciously as the main melody skips past with a devious feeling and the low end collides.
Now the wildly swirling guitar accelerates madly, filling me with a similar sensation of feral drama. The guitar roars and charges, deepening the sensation of a rushing forward attack. As the smoothly wandering synth flows past, the low end continues to pulse with weight and the background sounds shimmer. The main melody dances through again with playful sensations before the song comes to an end.
“Pour Some Catnip on Me” commences as n angular, oscillating beat forms a danceable pulse. As the beat undulates, the snare drum hits hard and a ringing, glistening synth leaps out with an exciting melody that carries me along with celebratory levity. The low end continues to drive as the gleaming synth cascades and jumps with positivity. The drums flourish and the medium-high, radiant synth bursts with energetic life as the low end continues to oscillate heavily and the drums snap.
Pizzicato notes flicker and the main melody soars again with uplifting happiness. When the melody shifts into a minor key, it adds a sense of suspense to the otherwise dynamic track while the snare drums clatter. A deep bass moves with a twisting synth that fills the music with a spectral moment. The melody drives forward with irrepressible strength as hollow notes in the distance intermingle.
Now the bass disappears, the clicking drums push forward and the tripping synth notes tumble over one another. Gigantic bass thunders as an elevated synth flashes and vanishes into silence. The drums launch once more as the melody wriggles and skips before the track ends.
A wandering, bouncing synth before a rapidly throbbing snare drum pulsation is joined by razor-edged synth sweeping in the distance as “Hair Raiser” starts. Nervous energy fizzles through the music as a minor key, slightly distorted synth undulates with an unmoored feeling while the drums continue to pulse smoothly. The minor key sounds are unsettled and joined by a twanging, metallic synth that bends through the music with a sense of tension before the main melody shifts with angular motion and a hard-to-resist vibe. The way in which the track twists and bends is intriguing to my ears.
A sense of shadow moves as metallic notes descend in broken lines, adding to the feeling of imbalance and uncertainty. The drums keep clashing as the melodic line jerks and trips while the drums flare. Now a gleaming synth pulse repeats hypnotically as the drums snap and heavy piano chords move. The bending, wriggling synth flexes past as the drums flourish and the main melody shimmies and shivers before the track ends.
“Dangerpuss” begins as a shadowed synth expands and contracts while the drums create a catchy beat . The dark sounds bend as a flickering synth spins out a melody full of tension and a strangely howling, twisting synth moves with fiercely bursting drums. The synth’s surging ferocity draws me in as the drums continue to explode with forceful speed.
A quickly dancing synth slices with dark edges as synth notes flash out in a melody with dramatic intent that erupts with blinding light. An intertwining, quickly swirling synth moves like shifting flames as trumpeting notes shine. The chunky guitar growls with battering force while the drums burst with raging force and the bass roars.
Once again, the drums become lighter, moving in a ticking pattern while the taut synth volleys through the music. Radiant notes cry out in an encouraging melody, while the guitar charges underneath with confidence and liveliness. The melody is charming and full of joy as it flies through the music above the explosive low end.
As the synth bounces again, a piano skims through the music while the expanding bass throbs, and the track slowly comes to an end.
Conclusion
Hissteria is another entry in a long list of superb releases from Cat Temper. Once again, it shows his knack for creating music that’s unique and full of life. This is the kind of album that draws me in with its sense of exploration and energy as it keeps calling me back for more.
