Aural Tendencies: Big Electric Cat, with an Addendum on Blog Changes

Oh, technology, you never cease to amaze me. Shortly after I celebrated my return to blogging, I began to deal with a number of computer issues, which resulted in months of trying to replace my broken computer. This, along with other things, contributed to a very long absence.

My long absence aside, let’s talk Goth music. Goth music can be an acquired taste for some and may require some getting used to. Some bands may sound too harsh and grating, while others may feature bands with high-pitched voices that new listeners may be unaccustomed to, such as The Sex Gang Children. For first time listeners seeking exposure to Goth music, I recommend checking out Big Electric Cat (BEC) which was a very important gateway band that introduced me to the subculture as a gloomy, angst-ridden teenager. Intrigued and amused by their name, I listened to “Black Water” and instantly fell in love with the track’s dark, throbbing beats. Now as an adult, Big Electric Cat is one of my favorite bands of all time, with Eyelash being my favorite album by far.

Big Electric Cat was formed in 1993 with Paul Sadler, David Block, and Deborah Denton. The band name was inspired by the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. Adding to the lineup was the drum machine, Dr. Ruth, named after a famous sex therapist (Bruce). This seems to be in a similar vein to The Sisters of Mercy’s Dr. Avalanche and The Merry Thoughts’ Thoughtmachine. In Peter Marks’s interview with Paul Sadler, the guitarist and lead vocalist, it seems the moniker was a backhand to The Sisters of Mercy. Sadler responds, “…[a]ll these gothic bands name their drum machines something. And Dr. Avalanche has been around for a few years, so we thought we would just twist that a little bit”(Marks). 
 

In 1989, Sadler moved from the UK to Sydney, Australia, as he believed it allowed for a healthier musical atmosphere. The band’s music was intended to confront the darker aspects of the human condition, like sadness, and was influenced by a variety of sources, such as music from Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, “an appreciation of deep feelings and emotions, and a belief in love transcending death” (“iTunes Preview”).  

After putting out a self-financed EP called Suspiria, which resulted in a three-album contract with Cleopatra  Records, Big Electric Cat debuted with Dreams of a Mad King in 1994, reworking four of the tracks that appear in the final version of the album (“iTunes Preview”). Although I prefer Eyelash over Dreams of a Mad King, I still enjoy this album, my personal standout tracks including “Bed of Nails”, “Orchid Dreaming”, “Winter Room”, “Twisting Man”, and “Paris Skyes”. Their compilation Burning Embers was released in 1995. This is my least favorite release by BEC. While highly imaginative, the remixes vary in quality. Bruce, the author of the article “The Unquiet Grave: Big Electric Cat” succinctly states that “Burning Embers is a spotty piece of work, with a chill take on ‘Christabel’ and a skitterish[sic] darkwave mix of ‘Paris Skyes’ faring better than some outdated house workouts” (Bruce).

After what I would consider to be their weakest release, the 1997 release Eyelash proved to be a masterpiece in my eyes—an experimental, morose album that, to me, highlights the dreamy, poetic essence of Goth. The titular track, written in the memory of Sadler’s father, is a stunning composition with painful lyrics. “Crash Flight 232” is another track that caught me off guard as unnerving and tense, but still particularly well-written and composed. Sadly, their sophomoric album would be their last, as developments on new album releases have been quiet since.

Paul Sadler’s soothing vocals matched/set against the overall sounds of Big Electric Cat have made my transition to Goth music extremely easy. I’ve found their music has provided great a soundtrack while meditating. Big Electric Cat’s take on David Bowie’s classic “Cat People” adds a more sinister, electronic spin on the classic track.  The incorporation of synthesizers reminds me of Clan of Xymox’s melodic and danceable “Stranger”. The solemn, yet beautiful “Transience” is the final track of Eyelash, closing with a slow, mournful tone, highlighted by Sadler’s languid, melancholy vocals:

                Do you still remember

                The passing of your soul?

                Carve the name eternity

                For everyone to hold    

The haunting and dreamy lyrics that drew me in as a fledging Goth continue to astound me with their beauty and depth. This is a band I can’t recommend enough. Their Discogs page can be found here for more information on the album releases and formats.

Recommended Tracks:

Paris Skyes

Cat People(Putting out Fire) (David Bowie cover)

Orchid Dreaming

Bed of Nails

Christabel

Transience

Winter Room

Black Water

Crash Flight 232

Twisting Man

If my rambling on Big Electric Cat interests you, I've created a playlist featuring the aforementioned tracks, which can be listened to here. Unfortunately, I was unable to find "Crash Flight 232", so instead I included the track "Eyelash".

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As an addendum, I wanted to note some of the changes I made to the blog. I had originally posted “In Defense of Dark Things”, and I made some grammatical edits after previewing the article on the blog. I want to note that The Count, whom I mentioned in the post, recently posted his YouTube video on his new site, The Belfry. The site is a fantastic source for interesting podcasts and posts. I have added this and other numerous links to the Resources page. I also want to thank The HouseCat for mentioning me on her Facebook website; I really appreciate you sharing my post! 

While I closely follow the Blogging without Obligation principle, I sincerely hope to not make a habit of disappearing this long. Many things are coming in the works for this blog.

Sources Cited:

Big Electric Cat. “Eyelash”. Eyelash. Cleopatra, 1997. (link)

Bruce. “The Unquiet Grave: Big Electric Cat”. I Die: You Die. 4 July 2012. 15 July 2015. (link)

“ITunes Preview: Big Electric Cat”. Apple. Nd. 13 July 2015. (link)

Marks, Peter. “Interview with Paul Sadler of Big Electric Cat at EJ’s, Portland, OR, September 6”. Sonic Boom. 24 Sep 2012. 7 July 2015. (link)