Stolen Diamonds Explained

Stolen Diamonds
Type:studio
Artist:the Cat Empire
Cover:The Cat Empire - Stolen Diamonds.png
Studio:Red Moon Studios
Length:53:53
Label:Two Shoes
Producer:Jan Skubiszewski
Prev Title:Rising with the Sun
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Where the Angels Fall
Next Year:2023

Stolen Diamonds is the eighth studio album by Melbourne band the Cat Empire. It was produced by Jan Skubiszewski and released on 15 February 2019 through Two Shoes Records.[1] The album was released almost three years after their previous album, Rising with the Sun (2016) - the band's longest gap between albums at that time. It debuted at Number 4 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, making it the band's sixth top 10 debut, following Rising with the Sun. To promote the album, the band released a new single on the first of each month leading up to the release, starting with "Ready Now" on 1 July 2018.[2] Next released was "Stolen Diamonds" in August, followed by "La Sirène" in September, "Kila" in October, "Sola" in November, "Barricades" in December, "Oscar Wilde" in January and "Echoes" in February.

It is the band's last album to feature the full original lineup, with Ryan Monro leaving in 2021 and Harry James Angus, Will Hull-Brown and Jamshid Khadiwhala all departing in 2022.

Artwork

The artwork for Stolen Diamonds is a photo taken by Jason Futrill (also known as Tassiegrammer), taken at the Bay of Fires in Tasmania. The photo is entitled Floating Girl, and the subject of the picture is Futrill's then-partner Susan Matthew. On the day of the shoot, the temperature was below 12 °C (53.6 °F). Futrill stated that "at the time of capturing this image, drones had not yet become mainstream, and the unique perspective of the aerial image, combined with the colours and focal point of Susan in a bikini, helped create an image that has people dreaming that they were there."[3]

Reception

Melbourne magazine Beat rated the album 7 out of 10, stating: "The album barely takes a break from its upbeat tempo, and flows seamlessly between funk, reggae, and ska...". They went on to say that the album "...sees the Cat Empire take one step closer towards legend status."[4]

Double J presented Stolen Diamonds as its feature album, and was also very positive in its review, saying: "The worst thing about Stolen Diamonds is that you’re gonna need to clear some space around you if you're planning on listening to it. Because this is very much a record that inspires movement."[5]

While giving the album 3 out of 5 stars, The Sydney Morning Herald gave a more critical review, writing: "...the moves are there, the playing is very fine, but nothing lasts once you've stopped moving."[6]

Personnel

The Cat Empire core members
The Empire Horns (auxiliary members)
Additional musicians
Recording details

Charts

Year-end charts

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stolen Diamonds – Out Now. 14 February 2019. The Cat Empire. 25 February 2019.
  2. Web site: Streader . Kate . 2018-07-09 . The Cat Empire reveal new single, 'Ready Now' . 2022-11-29 . Beat Magazine . en-AU.
  3. Web site: The Stolen Diamonds album cover, shot by Australian Photographer Jason Futrill, also known as Tassiegrammer, is entitled "Floating Girl" and was captured at the Bay of Fires in Tasmania.. live. https://archive.today/20231123071646/https://www.facebook.com/thecatempire/photos/a.430515374358/10157156103894359/?type=3. 23 November 2023. 26 February 2019. facebook.com. 23 November 2023.
  4. Web site: 'Stolen Diamonds' sees The Cat Empire take one step closer towards legend status. Beat Magazine. en. 25 February 2019.
  5. Web site: Feature Album: The Cat Empire – Stolen Diamonds. Condon. Dan. 7 February 2019. Double J. 25 February 2019.
  6. Web site: Music reviews: Ariana Grande, the Cat Empire, Woman's Hour and more. Zwartz. Barry Divola, Kish Lal, Annabel Ross, John Shand, Bernard Zuel and Barney. 11 February 2019. The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 February 2019.
  7. Web site: ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Jazz and Blues Albums 2019. Australian Recording Industry Association . 10 January 2020.
  8. Web site: ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Jazz and Blues Albums 2020. Australian Recording Industry Association . 15 January 2021.
  9. Web site: ARIA Charts – End Of Year Charts – Jazz and Blues Albums 2021. Australian Recording Industry Association . 15 January 2021.