Band of the Day: The Mouse That Ate The Cat

I’ve been trying to find a word that really helps me sum up the listening experience had with The Mouse That Ate The Cat. After much deliberation – and some synonym research – I have deduced that this Glaswegian ‘electro-indie-pop’ duo produce a ‘calming‘ sound. Think The Postal Service, but slightly faster and a wee bit more Scottish…

Brian Henderson provides vocals and synth with Colin Keenan handling the guitar in a simple combination that lets both participants take a step away from their respective lives and towards something different and less committal. Henderson hails from indie rockers The Dykeenies while Keenan used to be a part of Keenan and Kel electro-indie group Drive-By Argument, so for both in their own ways this relaxed partnership has proved to be a nice break from routine.

You really feel the lack of urgency or need to prove something in the way TMTATC sound. Everything flows with a soft nonchalance and even when the tempo kicks up a notch and the chip-tune chirrups away there’s no beseeching on their parts to alleviate you from the comfortable chilled position you’ll have fell into while listening.

Below is a nice ‘clean’ song of theirs released on the day this post goes up, a perhaps more summery tune to get you started on your journey towards a daydream state. Here’s their Facebook page while you’re at it: if you live in Scotland, you may be able to catch them play a set.

Footnote:

Since TMTATC haven’t made it easy for you to find all of their songs easily, here is a list (in chronological order) of all their songs available to stream, EP release or otherwise (stars mean there’s a download option).

1. Falling Down/Landmines In The Blood*
2. Knife Lover
3. Our Relics
4. Calm
5. Wet Rope
6. We Made A Deal With The Night
7. Hubris
8. Annual Social Coma
9. I’ll Play God
10. Are You Alone Now
11. Like Lightbulbs/Life In A Fish Tank*
12. u.r.all.i.c.*
13. I Am The Hottest Fire
14. Ou Les Morts Est Song Des Dieux