cat's eyes 'I'm not stupid' live studio performance

Share

The Horrors frontman Faris Badwan is paired with classically trained Canadian musician Rachel Zeffira in his new project, Cat's Eyes.

The duo's self titled debut is just released in the states, but it's already making waves in the UK. Badwan and Zeffira recently stopped by the studio at Guardian UK for a tender, heartbreaking performance of "I'm Not Stupid":



If you wonder why Zeffira has such a complex, just listen to Badwan in current single "Face In The Crowd":




And I can't have a Cat's Eyes post without referencing their December performance at the Vatican of "I Knew It Was Over":




Beautiful.

watch cat's eyes 'face in the crowd'

Share

The Horrors have confirmed three UK festival dates this summer and are finishing up their third album. In the meantime, frontman Faris Badwan is touring with his new project, Cat's Eyes.

Paired with classically trained Canadian musician Rachel Zeffira, Badwan gets to show a softer side — if still dark and mysterious.

The duo's self titled debut was released in the UK last week, but won't arrive in the states until May 17. Badwan hesitates to call it goth, but it is at times brooding and atmospheric. Take the most recent single "Face In The Crowd":




However, as a December performance at the Vatican shows, Cat's Eyes can be beautiful — even emotionally powerful:




While the album version of "I Knew It Was Over" doesn't quite pack the punch of that performance, there are moments of heartbreaking brilliance like "The Best Person I Know":




If you want to hear more, look for the free mp3 link on the band's website for a copy of "Not A Friend." Nice one, Faris.

the horrors invade vatican city

Share

Garage rockers turned shoegaze revivalists The Horrors are expected to return with the follow up to Primary Colours later this year. Until then, lead singer Faris Badwan has focused his energies on a side project with classically trained siren, Rachel Zeffira.

Cat's Eyes will release a debut EP, Broken Glass, in late February, to be followed by a self-titled LP in April.

Back in December, Cat's Eyes performed "I Knew It Was Over" at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City of all places. Evidently Zeffira had performed there before and got permission to serenade an afternoon mass attended by seven "high-ranking cardinals."

Badwan told NME that "the cardinals were totally into it."

Several friends of the band snuck cameras in past security to capture the footage used in this unusual and effective video:




You can visit the band's website for a free download of "Not A Friend", an equally beautiful track:




Quite a departure for Badwan, who calls Cat's Eyes "something I can do at the same time as The Horrors yet be totally different with."  Different is good, as long as he doesn't forget how to kick out jams like this one: