CATS ON THE ROOF

Compare this review to my recent review of To A New People. Most of what I wrote there applies, except that the two tracks here: Arabesques and Up the Pass, are quite a bit harder rocking! They have a similar sound to some more heavy Post/Math rock (such as Russian Circles). The longer track, Arabesques, has a hypnotic deep beat and melody, switching in the middle to a quicker bridge with an amazing bass-line. There are no vocals, but some cool vague talking at the end. Up The Pass has an up-tempo complex rock beat with some spacey-jazzy synth lines and a bit of funkiness.

Quite an enjoyable "album", (except, too short to be a real album). In spite of the length, I like it quite a bit more than To a New People (though mostly listen to them together, like they're a single album). 4.3 stars for sure. Recommended If you like heavier spacy, jazzy-rocking instrumentals.

I was surprised to see that Cats On The Roof had no ratings or reviews on PA (at the time of writing this). But it would not be for lack of talent that this recent Ukrainian instrumental band hasn't gotten any notice thus far-- the musicianship and songwriting are excellent! The band is classified as Psychadelic/Space Rock--though to my ears the tracks on To A New People also have a Post/Math Rock kind of feel: often an echoy ambiance with jazzy overtones. Most of the music has a more laid back rock or jazz feel/beat, though at moments it breaks into some harder riffing, as is the case on the first track, July Days--one of the two best tracks along with 5/4, Black Owl Drive. The instruments are simple (bass, guitar, organ/keyboard, drums, and sax on one track), so there are no lush embellishments. But there's a lot for prog-accustomed ears to enjoy, including frequent changing up of tempos/beats. Recommended for those who enjoy Space, Jazz, Post, or Psychadelic rock.

As a Promo, the album is short, though it appears to be the last recording the band did (in 2014). As such it feels incomplete; the band shows what they can do, but leaves you hanging a bit (as if they might have done some more in the intervening years). I give the album as a whole 3.4 stars (if it were longer, perhaps up to 4, as I give the two mentioned "best" tracks a 4).