If you like child-friendly music the concept album, Catastic Odyssey, by the duo, Cats with Nice Faces, documents a day in the life of a house cat, whether they live in U.S. domestic households or human environments around the world.
From songs like “Wake Your People Up” to “Bedtime,” the songs on the album are written by humans, of course, but through an interpretative lens of the perspective of a cat’s daily life, from waking and sleeping to playing and eating. The songs also represent and educate about their moods, needs, and desires.
Other simply-titled and performed songs include the odd, “Feed Me,” (sounds like a Japanese alt pop song sometimes) or the lazy, “Naps,” the sweet “Paws” and the innocent “Playtime, Play Nice.”
The husband and wife musical duo features Chris Valenti and Amber Mattano. Their music is personal, insightful and made up of diverse influences such as alternative rock, acoustic singer-songwriter, Afrobeat and Krautrock.
Mattano’s vocals are safe and somewhat animated while Valenti’s musicianship drives and shines throughout the album with blazing guitars and stylistic solos. In a way, it’s an album that adults and kids can share.
An underlying message of respect for animals pervades the album without being preachy or militant.They wrote and recorded the album over a nine-month period in a spare bedroom with a digital workstation and their instruments.
While Valenti’s first love is rock and roll, he embraces various styles. While one may think this is just an album for cat lovers and kids, the truth is just about anyone can enjoy it.
Listen to the full album here on Bandcamp