Watch: Cats on Fire - "After the Fact"

Apparently Finnish indie-pop quintet Cats on Fire released an album this year and I missed it. Perhaps I should explain why this is odd - their compilation album Dealing in Antiques is still my go to record. I had been hoping there'd be some sort of release from them soon since I rediscovered them last year and thought I was paying pretty close attention. I was wrong, somehow earlier this year in my excitement about new records from Bowerbirds, Daniel Rossen, Kishi Bashi, and Lands & Peoples, Cats on Fire managed to send their third full length album All Blackshirts to Me out into the world with me being none the wiser.

What better way to fix my total cluelessness about an album than by starting at the beginning. A couple months ago Cats on Fire released a video for "After the Fact", the first single from All Blackshirts to Me and it's simple and maybe that's why I love it so much. Cats on Fire have always reminded me quite a bit of The Smiths and while "After the Fact" doesn't seek out to change that, it's far livelier than a Smiths track was apt to be. It's rather upbeat and sauntering but still invocative of all the reasons I fell in love with Cats on Fire in the first place - winding melodic structures, lyrical cohesiveness, and the oh so perfect way the band fit together like puzzle pieces. It's straightforward pop with just enough of a twist to make it interesting and utterly attention-consuming.  

Cats on Fire - Dealing in Antiques (2010)

I avoid single band compilations as a general rule since they're usually just best of collections of stuff already released by the band. And yet, at least in this case, they're a pretty good way to get into a band. Especially if their music isn't the most readily available. Case in point: Finnish band Cats on Fire. Years ago I found out about them via Eardrums and then kind of forgot I liked them. That sounds awful, I know, but I couldn't find their music anywhere. Now, through to the awesome catalog on Spotify, I've since been able to experience the band in full.

I would recommend Cats on Fire to people who like The Smiths or things that sound like The Smiths that just happen to not be The Smiths. But there's more to them than that. Cats on Fire is lush, melody driven jangle-pop that Scandinavia is known for. Released last year, Dealing In Antiques is a compilation of several songs only available on EPs released in the early 2000's. In fact that songs that appear on their debut album are in their original EP version form here. Packaged up with a cover of White Town's "Your Woman", B-sides, and a never before released track, it's a great introduction to a band whose songs are composed of rich narratives, driving instrumentals, and high no expense spared energy.

It's rare for a band with only two full length albums to get a best of compilation but considering Cats on Fire have been making music together for about a decade, it's not totally surprising. What makes Dealing in Antiques a particularly exciting compilation is that it's not just a collection of played to death tracks batter by radio play. Despite it's rather intense 20 track length, each song is refreshingly diverse but still familiar- no doubt aided by Mattias Bjorkias distinctive, pleasant croon. Somewhat melancholic songs about socialism and small-town living are dressed up with sparse though intelligently well-crafted arrangements and next thing you know, you have powered through all of Dealing in Antiques and only want for more. In this, Cats on Fire have achieved what so few bands do. Each track on the compilation is an utter delight, shining with modest brilliance. Their songs are catchy without sacrificing quality and smart without forgoing relevancy. Cats on Fire have certainly earned this compilation but here's hoping this isn't their magnum opus and their's more to come from the charmingly depressing Finns.

Get a taste of Cats on Fire with their upbeat number "Higher Grounds":

Eardrums Pop release second digital single

Eardrums Pop latest free digital single is from Finnish band Paperfangs. The band creates sparkly dream-pop not unlike first digital single artist Tiny Fireflies, except Paperfangs involves noticeable use of electronics and is much more upbeat. The second single features the two original songs "The Fastest Planes" and "The Vastest Plains" followed by a cover of US duo Kiss Kiss Fantastic's "Violet. They're certainly a talented bunch as they even made their own cover art. Learn more about the artists, the project, and download the single here.

Listen to the Paperfangs' digital single:
Paperfangs - ePop006 - digital single by EardrumsPop