Boston based musician Ian Cat exudes an interesting mix of styles within his eclectic songs. There’s a tinge of distortion and feedback to give a shoegazy edge, along with guitar pop that is reminiscent of Oasis’ golden age and Wilco’s late-’90s material. All that is purely exemplified in his latest single, “Baggage Claim”, a lovely track all about waiting for the girl of your dreams at the airport. It’s acoustically driven with an electrifying solo that rips everything apart halfway through.
Matt Jones, who is also in Ian’s backing band The Crimsons, played drums on the track along with handling engineering, recording, and mixing duties at Wooly Mammoth Sound in Waltham. Scott Craggs of Old Colony Mastering in Boston’s south side put on the finishing touches as well. It has a pristine quality with no instrument overpowering the other and Cat’s voice comes in clear. There’s a full sound with nothing lacking, the amplification is steady without anything being left to waste. Along with playing acoustic and electric guitar and singing, Cat also shakes up a tambourine, plucks a bass and plays piano and organ on the song.
The single this week comes with a b-side, “Purgatory Blues”, that’s on Cat’s upcoming album, East Coast New England Boy, that’ll be released later this year. He also has a show happening with The Crimsons at Thunder Road Music Club & Rock n’ Roll Bistro in Somerville on January 17, where he’ll be sharing the stage with noise-pop artist Leigh Cheri and indie psych rockers Bottle Kids.
Until then, give “Baggage Claim” and “Purgatory Blues” a spin via the slider below.
