Catman Cohen – How I Want To Dream (CD)

NeuFutur has been lucky enough to review a number of titles of Cohen’s discography, and we were presented with a copy of eir latest, “How I Want To Dream”. The disc starts out with the titular track, which melds absolutely sick guitar lines with a slower set of vocals. The track, despite only taking up about three minutes of the total time on the disc, sets the stage well for the rest of the album. “There Was A Boy” continues Cohen’s work, and it provides a more intricate introduction oto Cohen’s work than had been present during the disc’s first salvo.

The set of influences that come forth during this track are different than those first broached during “How I Want To Dream”, imbuing the track with more of a blues and jazz set of styles. “So Ashamed” is the one of the most memorable tracks on the album, with a harmony that will be hard to ever remove from one’s head. There is not too much in the way of instrumentation on the track, but the vocals here are what really set the stage for an excellent song here. “She’s My Hallelujah” begins with an interesting time signature played out by the vocals; where most musicians would struggle to make this work, Catman Cohen kicks it up a further notch with a sometimes-ode to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”. While it is its own unique song , the homage that Catman creates during this track gives listeners further motivation to listen to the rest of “How I Want To Dream”. Listeners that come out of “She’s My Hallelujah” are treated to the disc’s next single, “Fade Into You”.

“Fade Into You” is a slower track that with have everyone’s lighters and cellphones out; the disc opens up with the inclusion of guitars that gently swell and provide further pomp to the track. Where “She’s My Hallelujah” took on Leonard Cohen, there is definitely a more “Bat Out of Hell II” (Meatloaf) type of cinematic rock feel to the track. Twelve tracks and Catman comes out stronger than before; there is evolution and progression with “How I Want To Dream” that makes me want to listen to any follow up releases that ey may put out there in the next few years.

Top Tracks: Fade Into You, So Ashamed

Rating: 7.6/10

Catman Cohen – How I Want To Dream / 2009 Self / 12 Tracks / http://www.catmancohen.com