Catbells - Partly Cloudy (2023)

Dreamy melancholy meets indie pop... Catbells engages her listeners with soft hypnotic vocals, lush soundscapes, and moody melodies that capture her deep, heartfelt emotions in the most intimate of ways. Catbells is a somewhat enigmatic, shy wallflower type, with her name itself being an alter-ego. Catbells' cinematic music is influenced by the vast natural wild.

This endeavor leans into a dream-pop semblance. That’s to say it isn’t heavily roots-folk or traditionally oriented. Yet, the effort by alter-ego Catbells (multi-instrumentalist) is an interesting offering. The young lady is almost like a female supplement to the wonderful Scottish band Blue Nile with its tranquil showcase. Soft, dreamy, misty melodies & lyrics.

Not as finger-popping as your best rock n’ roll commercial tune Catbells focuses more on the pulse that was attractive in Angelo Badalamenti-type melodies with vocals of the late Julee Cruise. There’s an ethereal & sublime mix to it all.

The 13 inclement tracks of Partly Cloudy were produced by Billy Mohler in Long Beach, CA. It’s music that has merits in its solitude, but for selective tastes since it doesn’t cater to a musical arrangement that takes off. It creates more mood, vibe & atmosphere. Toes may not tap, fingers may not snap, but hips will sway on “I Wish,” since it has that type of stroke.

For her debut CD Catbells draws on her childhood memories, seasons changing & vacations on lakes & canoes & at the family farm. It’s heartfelt & honest. Catbells rely more on supple flavors, instead of rushing streams, a gently flowing one. Where some listeners may like their music smoking this music is more like the sultry waver of a single spout of smoke from a wooden match just after the flame’s blown out.

The choruses are not distinctive in that they’re repetitive like a mainstream pop song. Many pop songs can be sandpaper, wax paper, newsprint & bond but, Catbells is always tissue. Many tunes gently drift. They have a bouncy posture but they’re not rollicking. They do maintain a vibrancy in their performance.

The arrangements are natural with no embellishments. They touch upon the whispery vocal intonations of the 60s singer Claudine Longet. The catchiest melody is “Same As You” & the least vocal treatment is on “Ground Force,” since you can hear Catbells’ vocal with a warmer tonality.

Catbells most rootsy element will come on the final tune “Riding Tides,” with its gentle toy guitar or ukelele strums – all in good taste & different from everything else.

The name Catbells comes from a story by Beatrix Potter. Her gimmick is a bit out there, but her music is a soothing medicinal spoonful. Like good chocolate pudding.

Highlights – “I Wish,” “It’s Not Hard,” “Same As You,” “Ask Me Tomorrow,” “Ground Force,” “Distant Star” “Trying Not To Feel” & “Riding Tides.”