Back in May 2011 Oliver Catt had an idea about recording songs from his bedroom and releasing them. As the project grew, so too did the number of collaborators working with the Manchester-based Catt, and by April 2012, Fantasy Rainbow had a string of self-released EPs and a recording contract – and now, a debut album. The gestation period has done its job and ‘Bos Taurus’ is home to a well-cultivated collection of musical ideas. By binding them all together with solid melodies and memorable choruses, Catt has created one of the stand-out debuts of 2012.
Within its 40 minutes there are elements of early 90s American icons like Pavement and Dinosaur Jr. to more recent artists like Conor Oberst and in some of its crazier moments, Animal Collective.
From the immediately ear-grabbing two-tone guitar intro to opener ‘Soda Scream’ until the closing country-inspired notes of the devastating ‘Tooth Ache’ it’s clear this is well-crafted indie-pop capable of being uplifting in even its most despairing moments.
“There are far better places that we’d like to go…the smell in this dancefloor is keeping me low,” sings Catt on ‘Nothing But’ in what seems like an emotional outburst where his voice is pushed to its limits, and all the more powerful for it. It’s here that the early Bright Eyes influence is most apparent. The stoner and surf-inspired ‘Portra’ glides along with a summery rhythm section as Catt seems to become more upbeat. “Maybe there’s more to this dismal existence?” he asks over a haze of guitars, his tone utterly uncertain, and all the more poignant for it. There’s no single stand out track but the sub-two minute ‘Golf World’ showcases Catt at his dreamiest best.
There’s a huge diversity throughout – helped no doubt by the fact this is one man and many collaborators as opposed to a band with limited ideas (up to eight have played live). The recording sounds mature – and given it follows the afore-mentioned tranche of EPs, this is no huge surprise. Using his earlier releases to find his place and the sound he’s trying to perfect has certainly added to the overall tightness of the album, with the production and arrangements helping to create a revealing portrait of a young man trying to find his place.
There have been a host of younger acts emerging this year and with Catt still in his (very) early twenties, the future will be all the better for his existence. ‘Bos Taurus’ is a reminder that 2012 has been an exceptional year for music in the UK, if you looked hard enough. No one should have to go looking for this though, it should be front and centre, deserving of the sort of audience that only a major-label marketing budget can provide these days. It may have arrived quite late in the year, but ‘Bos Taurus’ is up there with the best 2012 has had to offer.
Release on November 5th through Heist or Hit Records.
Posted by Kev Scott.
