"Sympathy for the Cat" by Septic and the Tanks
Review
The meteoric rise of Septic and the Tanks rather took many people by surprise: though I imagine that disturbing comfy equilibria probably amuses them.
Their charming amalgam of enthusiasm, originality, humour & vibrancy based upon an innate modesty (many of the band had not really played before) won them instant fans.
However, despite the place they now hold in our affections, the project seems to have been seen by the participants as temporary or even ephemeral: the decision to record anything coming sometime after their formation. Created as a lockdown challenging activity to channel frustrations & love of quirky music, the long term plan of vocalist Robin to relocate to the Antipodes was always going to set a limit.
The picture since has indicated a bit of mutation: the departure appeared to be delayed (possibly in part to the success exceeding their expectations) and the prospect of occasional reconventions far from ruled out.
Most immediately though, before their embarkation, the band managed to augment the material to be found on their debut album with some fresh recordings to keep us happy during this hiatus.
These will, I'm told, feature on an EP later this year & to start with, one track, which you may know already from live sets, "Sympathy for the Cat" comes out today (marking just over three years since their live debut at The Tin) as a single. I'm advised that the other songs are substantial developments from the ones you know & love already so more treats lie in store.
Having kicked off their career with a single about a dog's birthday party, I suppose that a certain amount of symmetry is achieved here: assuming that it is actually about an actual cat (a source within the band suggests that in addition to that possibility "It could be about a bad boyfriend, it could be about reversing gender roles in relationships").
Given the searing qualities of the recording, it really deserves to have other meanings: I'm not sure most people would express such feelings towards a feline & in fact if they wish to escape the wrath of the RSPCA it's probably best to consider it an allegory ("bash him on the head & tell him to fuck off" is a representative sample of the action described. I'm sure cat lovers everywhere would dispute that cats "have no feelings" or call their pets "scum"). That the title is more than slightly reminiscent of "Sympathy for the Devil" feels intentional too.
I think one aspect is definitely how not only the looming parting of ways but also the sum of their experiences since recording the album informs the very intense sound… this is Septic and the Tanks channelling what they've learned.
The vocals alone sound like the final throw of someone who is determined to give all they've got while they still have the chance (and there seem to be multiple vocals involved at time).
While suggesting that their music has ever been anything other than urgent in tone would be downright dishonest, but here we have almost desperation in the tempo & wall of noise. If the Tanks were ever originally a band on a mission, it probably was to enjoy themselves, upskill their own playing & delight their friends. Now they've evolved into a tight unit with a much broader apparent mission which seems to involve shaking things up generally, though given their characteristic as noted above, to couch deeper messages in mischievous lyrical disguise, teasing you to guess at the level they wish you to take each song, it's never easy to assess with precision. Which again is part of their unique appeal.
Audible too is each member's confidence in their instrument. The defining aspect of the band is their chemistry and capacity to reject ego in creating a communal & united sound, yet they all now have showcases of varying lengths (none is going to steal the show from the others) including possibly James' most powerful guitar solo to date.
The original punk era was renowned for bands whose DIY approach clearly inspire Septic and the Tanks and who managed only one album: or indeed in several cases just a single: in their cases uniqueness is thus enhanced & quality prevails over quantity.
Septic and the Tanks have exceeded this already and having inadvertently created addicts of their music, are managing to cater for their needs. Even if we don't see them play for a while, "Sympathy for the Cat" ensures we shan't forget them in that time.
