Local Record Review: Cat Party from Costa Mesa

Ned Raggett | Posted on



Cat Party
Heartache Over Headache 7″
Flat Black Records

Costa Mesa has something of a secret history of UK postpunk guitar love–ask any number of folks and you'l find the type of people who are more than happy to argue over the qualities of bands like the Durutti Column or the Comsat Angels. 
Cat Party's been pursuing that particular muse in recent times, and their latest single shows them still fully at it; the title track finds the trio ripping through the kind of murkily passionate arrangement that comes from blasting Chameleons bootlegs circa Script of the Bridge more than once. 

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Lead singer Ryan's vocals tend to sink in the mix in comparison to his guitar, but the overall impact is pure nervous thrill. “Unconscious Living” is equally good if a bit of a copy of the main song (credit drummer Roger's blasting flair at the end, though), while “The Digital Age” provides a better contrast overall, a longer, more measured song that brings out both slow-building melancholy as well as unsettled rush. 

Everything's good with them and whatever's next could be even better.