Cat Temper - Mystic Kitten

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Cat Temper’s Mystic Kitten weaves a musical spell as it combines lushly layered synths, melodies both ethereal and haunting and atmospheric moments that cast an enchantment over the listener. The album draws me in and entangles me within the musical web it spins out around my ears.

A richly varied and endlessly ear-pleasing synth palette is a big part of Mystic Kitten’s attraction for me. Cat Temper explores sounds that glisten, drift diaphanously and rumble ominously in his synth choices. I enjoy the moments of haunted darkness as much as those of flaring light. His percussion and bass also create powerful propulsion and shaping motion to complete the layering.

Melodies that have a wandering, lonely and pained quality fill Mystic Kitten. I enjoy the way in which Cat Temper’s melodies are clear and emotive. There’s a wandering, ghost-like feeling in the writing that is sometimes gentle and sometimes hurting which captivates me. I find the magic of the album increases as the melodies unfold.

Atmosphere oozes from Cat Temper’s music on the album. I enjoy the quality of misty ensorcellment that fills the music, evoking ancient ruins and fog-clouded moors. There’s a delicate spell cast over the tracks that I find quite engaging.

My Favourite Tracks Analyzed

“Welcome To My Nightmeow” comes into being as rippling, digital-sounding arpeggios sparkle into space. A steady sound swells fully and reverberating drums pound hard while darkly shaded bass growls. Broad-sounding, sweeping arpeggios writhe and hard-edged, metallic chimes ring in a melody that effectively mingles dynamism and threat.

A ticking hi hat joins flowing arpeggios and giant bass as drums cascade.The low end becomes a muscled surge and twisting, haunted sounds move. Now trumpeting synth cries out in energizing life as guitar growls and erupts into driving motion.Bells ring out again, cutting in with warning feeling. Warmer, brassy synth calls as angular guitar slashes in. The track ends on radiant, jangling bells and sweeping notes while percussion throbs.

Hectic, nervous synth rushes in widely dancing motion to open "Last Cat On Earth.” Open-voiced panpipes exhale in an ethereal melodic pattern before giant bass bursts along with solidly throbbing drum. The panpipes dance in again, repeating a cosmically flowing pattern.

Intertwining synth carries a haunting, warmly melodic line that creates a sense of yearning that I enjoy. Nasally flickering synth sings over colossal low end motion. A taut arpeggio ripples as pipe organ-like synth carries a wandering pattern and the low end keeps pulsing onward.

Distorted synth writhes and shimmies as rough-edged bass growls and bell-like percussion taps. The drums punch in while oddly modulating synth wriggles and the track returns to a ghostly melodic pattern and solid drum motion.

“Purranormal” starts as flashing synth chords with a minor key tinge shine out into open space. Ominously pulsing bass doubles the luminous chords a and snare drum rattles while hollow percussion pops in between. A metallic synth winds out an enigmatic melody full of spectral light as chimes flicker and extend above the low end percussion.

Now the bass line becomes energizing while radiance glides out from elevated synth. The “A" section returns to add mystery once more. The synth melody wafts like a phantasm, like something from out of the shadows as the low end shapes the track.

I enjoy the little twist of variation to the melody that adds unpredictability as chimes flit past. Dynamically moving bass pushes on above a slowly sailing synth as chimes delicately arpeggiate. Rapidly turning arpeggios whirl as bell-like notes ring and piano climbs above them with more warmth before ending.

Steadily pulsing synth glides and modulates to produce an actively moving feeling to commence “Hisslexia.” The lead synth has a sharp-edged brightness to it as solid bass doubles it to add some weight. Lambent synth dances to add another dynamic layer as tuned percussion is cut by an edged bass pulse.

Now panpipes wander in cryptic patterns as blatting bass is joined by rebounding drums as soft-edged caresses. The low end pushes on and flaring, minor key synth tangles with abandon in an ear-pleasing rush.

Massive drums flourish and the track slips into misty synth lines and explosive drums. Slicing sounds trip as a fluting synth carries a fragile and soothing melody. An entangling synth pulse flits into silence as the track finishes.

“Under My Paws” comes to life as sailing synth entwines in silken motion as it flows into openness. A reverent feeling fills the track as a steady bass oscillation moves through. A scintillating, elevated synth sings a calming, slightly shadowy melody that I find engaging as drums throb and dense bass pulses.

Tom hits move in as rounded synth chords with a tinge of something dangerous slip past. The bass has a heavier force as it tumbles and a snare drum adds shape. The main melody slides in with soothing light as trickling synth falls in.

Massive, retro drums punch hard and cascade as chimes dance in a tenderly floating pattern. A gleaming synth carries a melancholy- tinged melody as chimes twinkle and the track ends with driving drums.

Widely sweeping, digital-sounding synth roams in arpeggiating motion, echoing out into space with a spectral quality to kick off “Lace and Whiskers.” Growling bass descends with threatening weight before the arpeggios are joined by cleanly cutting synth.

Bubbling synth wanders with wonderfully haunting melancholy as chiming notes shiver. Panpipes carry a lost and pained melody, drifting out over digitally rippling arpeggios.

A trembling, elevated synth moves tenuously and intimidating percussion thunders and towers. An spectral synth with a mournful quality carries a heartbroken melody. After cleanly twirling arpeggios flow in, nasal sounding synth adds a hurting quality as tremendous retro drums pound and then fall into silence.

Conclusion

Mystic Kitten is an ideal album for listening during the season of darkness and mists preceding Halloween. I enjoy the way in which the music haunts and enchants me. I want to keep listening as the long autumnal nights slowly shade into winter darkness outside my window.