Band Of The Week #113 - Haggard Cat
This week’s Band of the Week is Haggard Cat, who have just released their second album ‘Common Sense Holiday’, which out now via Earache Records. They took a moment to talk to us about modern life, how the album came together and what their plans are for the next few months.
So, ‘Common Sense Holiday’ is out now, how does it feel?
You know what? Quite relieved! We’ve worked so hard on this record and it feels like an eternity that we’ve been waiting for the day we actually get to share it with the world now. It already feels like it’s going to be quite an important step for us – I think it’s going to challenge any pre-conceptions people may have of what we’re capable of as a band. We’ve basically torn up the programme, but with that when you’re left to stew waiting for a record to land it allows your brain to torment you with all kinds of second guesses. So yeah, relieved and very excited for what the future can now bring!
What is the inspiration behind the title?
The title was inspired by how little sense the world seems to make as it goes on. We have all the facts in front of us of how to make things better, politically, socially, environmentally - more so than ever; but the majority seems to be ignoring that. It’s disenchanting when you’re surrounded with like-minded progressive people and yet when a vote comes out you discover that you are all in fact the minority; it makes you feel like you’re trapped in a bubble. This is only exacerbated by the online world algorithmically only showing you what you like to see. It all feels like decency, reason and rationale has fucked off on its holidays for a bit, we do hope it returns soon (it’s probably stuck in quarantine right now though, let’s be honest).
You have hit that second album mark, how does it differ from your debut album ‘Challenger’?
It’s actually a little secret that we tend to keep to ourselves, but this album is technically our third! We have a long lost first album (called Charger) but that was more like a collection of demos and was very much just thrown together for a bit of fun – it kind of works like a first part to Challenger – they definitely both belong as a set. CSH however is something that belongs entirely on its own. It’s more explorative, expressive and progressive. We weren’t afraid to get weird from time to time and I think it makes for a far more interesting and dynamic collection of songs than existing listeners might expect. This was the first time as a band that we had to put our heads together to deliberately conceive an album “from scratch” with no existing songs or ideas already on the table, which I think has added to how cohesive and complete it feels as a body of work.
The new record looks at modern life, with each track taking a different aspect of it, what are the key topics? Did you plan for the album to come out this way, or is that just how it fell?
We absolutely planned for the album to come out this way. We wanted a listener coming into it from the beginning of the concept to have a fragmented idea of what was going on, and to gain a fresh perspective of the themes at play with every snapshot we revealed – with the final release opening up to reveal the whole picture in the light of day. Prevailing themes that run throughout, other than the obvious disenchantment with our political direction, are isolation; technology; substance abuse and our relationship with time. It’s more positive than that might sound however, the over-arching message is that in having confidence in finding your own voice and using it you can regain some sort of control.
What are your views on modern life?
Contrary to how it may sound, I think modern life is brilliant. I think we’re unbelievably lucky to live in the time we do with such wide-ranging knowledge of our world and a whole heap of historical lessons to learn from. What is important about this though is that we embrace the power that this gives us as a species and to use it for good. Empathy is key.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
I’m really proud of the work I did lyrically on this album so it’s really hard to pick. I’d say “Pearl” is probably my favourite song lyrically as a whole. The track is about trying to help someone through a psychotic episode but being too immature to wholly understand what’s going on so feeling your way through blindly. I think the chorus lyric “You came out of your shell into a headless world, they brought you out just to steal your pearl” is probably my favourite line. It represents the helpless feeling of youth and inexperience when you’re unwittingly dragged into the harsh realities of a mad and overwhelming world, only to have everything that you had to give beaten out of you time and time again. I also love the parallels between the idea of a pearl being something of value that you feel you have to give to the world, or simply just a “pearl” of wisdom.
Now the album is out there, what next?
Time to go on tour forever! Loads of tours, headline and support and eventually a Summer full of festivals (our favourite of which being 2000 Trees). We’ve done the “burying ourselves away from everything” writing bit, now it’s time for the fun part! See you on the road!
Photo Credit: Carla Mundy