OTR: Catherine Wheel - Like Cats and Dogs

[illusionofjoy]

Catherine Wheel would not release a proper follow up to Happy Days until 1997's Adam and Eve, however in 1996 the very satisfying stop-gap Like Cats and Dogs was released. Like Cats and Dogs is a collection of B-sides with a few outtakes thrown in. Of course, merely getting this with the band's LPs won't satiate those desiring a complete collection of the band's work, as this only includes material from the Chrome era onward. In effect, one still can not easily acquire any of the B-sides from Ferment's singles nor the excruciatingly rare 30 Century Man EP.

As far as I'm concerned Like Cats and Dogs is a better follow-up to Chrome than Happy Days was. The best song from their last album, "Heal" (in single form as "Heal 2" here), opens the proceedings and is appropriately uplifting. The band then immediately dials down the grandeur of that track for introspection with their cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" (originally from the 10-inch version of "Waydown"), which was the song which introduced me to Catherine Wheel when they played it on a Canadian rock radio station I listened to regularly. "Mouthful of Air" (from the "Show Me Mary" 12-inch), "Car" and "Girl Stand Still" (both from version #1 of the single for "Show Me Mary") continue in understated beauty for nearly fifteen minutes.

"Saccharine" is possibly the most haunting recording Catherine Wheel ever set to tape. Half of the song is a lone Hammond Organ droning over a few stabs of guitar feedback held together by a brush on a high hat. Then, somewhere around the four minute mark a few droning chords are played on the guitar with the fuzz and phase pedals turned up to ten. It's unsettling, atmospheric, and perfect. New York City group Calla would manage something similar with their song "Tijerina."

The tempo and volume pick up a bit with "Backwards Guitar" (from "Judy Staring at the Sun." The fuzz and reverb of the group's early days return full-blast with "Tongue Twisted" (originally on version #2 of "Crank"). From there it closes out with "These Four Walls" (from version #2 of "Show Me Mary"), "High Heels" (from the 12-inch release of "Show Me Mary"), "Harder Than I Am" (previously unreleased) and "La La LaLa La" (from "Crank" version #1). Then, not listed on the reverse of the CD case is a hidden track which contains "Something Strange" (also from "Crank" version #1), "Angelo Nero" (from "Judy Staring at the Sun") and a cover of Rush's "The Spirit of Radio."

After Happy Days, this collection is pretty much a welcome relief and fits much better in the group's discography. Thankfully, they would eschew continuing down the path paved by that album, regroup and reach even greater heights with their next LP, Adam and Eve.