Horrors frontman forms Cat's Eyes w/ Rachel Zewffira (album coming soon, US shows announced)

by Bill Pearis

While we wait for the Horrors to follow-up 2009’s excellent Primary Colours, front man Faris Badwan has started another band (he’s adamant it’s not a “side project”), Cat’s Eyes, a duo with Rachel Zewffira, a Canadian opera soprano and classical multi-instrumentalist.  Musically, Cat’s Eyes promises to be, in the words of the press release, “a romantic pop masterpiece fit to dine at the same table as mid-’60s productions by Phil Spector, Joe Meek or Shadow Morton, but with a fiercely modern, experimental premise, which constantly leaves you wondering just what you’re listening to, and how on earth it was created.”

That certainly sounds interesting. You can download “Not A Friend” over at RCRD LBL. I didn’t wonder what I was listening to, or how on earth it was created, but it’s a nice little understated song that’s quite pretty. Cat’s Eyes debut is due out May 3 (via on Cooperative Music USA / Downtown Records). That same week, Cat’s Eyes will perform at Bowery Ballroom (May 5) and tickets are on sale now.

Cat’s Eyes first live performance was at The Vatican. Yes, that Vatican. Badwan told NME: “We were actually in the Basilica, with all the cardinals in the middle of a Mass. We didn’t even tell them  we werer going to do it. We just booked under the name of a local choir, sang along with them and then started playing our song “I Knew it Was Over” at the end. The cardinals were totally into it.”

There’s footage of that covert performance below. Cat’s Eyes proper debut gig is March 14 in Manchester. All 2011 non-Vatican tour dates (California included) are below…

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Cat’s Eyes – “I Knew it Was Over” (Performed Live at the Vatican)

Cat’s Eyes – 2011 Tour Dates
Monday March 14th – Manchester St Philips, UK
Tuesday March 15th – Glasgow St Andrews, UK
Friday March 18th – London Amadeus Centre, UK
Tuesday March 22nd – Paris Nouveau Casino, France
Thursday March 19th – Brussels AB Club, Belgium
Tuesday, May 3rd New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Saturday, May 6th Los Angeles, CA – L.A. Natural History Museum
Sunday, May 7th San Francisco, CA – The Independent
Friday May 20th – Amsterdam London Calling @ Paradiso, Holland
Saturday May 21st – Cologne Gebaude 9, Germany
Tuesday May 24th – Berlin Magnet, Germany
Wednesday May 25th – Munich 59 to 1, Germany
Thursday May 26th – Zurich Hafenkneipe, Switzerland
Friday May 27th – Milan Plastic, Italy