The opening track on Peter Cat‘s upcoming debut album The Saccharine Underground, “The Big House” delights with a hooky, rising sound. At points sporting aesthetic resemblances to acts like The Divine Comedy and Franz Ferdinand (the latter apparent in the intro’s suave vocals), “The Big House” certainly impresses in kicking off this release. Flashes of guitars and buzzing organs in the verses lead toward the “in the big house,” hook, which excels. For both the structural rise and title-referencing chorus, I’m reminded of Blur’s “Country House.” Look for The Saccharine Underground to release on November 6th.
Peter Cat is led by Graham Neil Gillespie, a singer and songwriter based in Glasgow. The project released singles “Hand Through Hair” and “Disappointing Lover” last year to acclaim.
Gillespie elaborates more on the track’s origins below:
“‘The Big House’ is a song written in the great British tradition of songs about houses. ‘House of Fun’ by Madness. ‘Country House’ by Blur. ‘Burning Down The House’ by Talking Heads (David Byrne was born in Scotland, so that one counts).
But in this case, the house in question was in fact a squat in the deepest, darkest depths of south London. Tooting, to be exact. Quite how I ended up in Tooting, I couldn’t possibly elaborate upon. But on arrival in the dead of night, one thing immediately struck me: this house was big. It was big, and it actually wasn’t even a house. It was a disused pub over three floors, with a horseshoe bar as the ‘reception room’, if you will. Here I was received, into the company of unnamed individuals who now happen to be on heavy Radio 1 Playlist rotation, and as the night progressed…well, I think the song can take over from here…”
Another recent album track from the artist, the catchy and brass-laden “A. S. M. R.” is streaming below:
