After bearing witness to the conglomeration of Latin-esque horns, dreamy synthesizers, and frequent syncopation featured on The Cat Empire’s latest release Cinema, one could easily classify this record as “alternative” and walk away, but its incorporation of genres and musical elements are far too plenty for such a vague description.

The amalgamation of musical styles the Melbourne-based band draws on from their endless list of influences (including, but not limited to, ska, jazz, and reggae) has clearly carried through to their fifth-studio record, leaving listeners with sounds and feelings as juxtaposing as seeing a Mariachi band play Wrongbar.

Cinema features a number of well-crafted pop songs, such as the opening track “Waiting” – an up-tempo, tambourine-induced number served with playful falsettos and a side-order of trumpets. Similarly, “Feelings Gone”, one of the album’s singles, undoubtedly features memorable melodic phrases and well-articulated hooks, but a few more tracks into the record and one may find the cursed curse of redundancy – most every track on Cinema is drowning in trumpets, and for every bar of music that has been left vacant of horns, a synthesized record-scratching sample replaces it.

It’s not to say that the 11 tracks the album is comprised of are not well-made and well-played, but when it comes to the question of creativity and reinvention within an individual release (if that’s the question the listener is asking) the answer would be that Cinema falls a tad short.

“Reasonably Fine” on the other hand, a mid-track on the record, is a hidden gem demonstrating a sound not found anywhere else on the album. Its soulful phrasing and sweet Hall-and-Oates-type of chord suspensions may be comparatively conventional, but the omission of chaotic brass runs allows the sincerity of the track to surface and it’s harmonious melody furnishes its simple lyrics with some sophistication: “And hopefully we can find ways to let us be reasonably fine, reasonably fine, at least to beat my drums in time.”

Even if it’s on the off-beat.

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Don’t forget to catch the Cat Empire this Wednesday at the Phoenix!