The alternative-pop group Bau Cat from North Wales have just released their new single, ‘Traposphere’, a sharp and energetic song which targets the misogyny, insecurity and misinformation that can be found in certain sections of online “manosphere” culture.
The song, which has been released by Libertino Records, features the band from Prestatyn blending humour, satire and frustration instead of dealing with the subject in a heavy-handed way. Bau Cat refer to the song as “a bit of tough love” – an appropriate term for a track that is confrontational yet still retains its sense of fun.
Abby Butler provides the vocals and plays bass, with Jim Davies on guitar and vocals and Jack Wells on drums and vocals; Bau Cat are known for their dynamic live shows which mix urgency with a sense of playfulness. The band has already performed their music in various parts of the UK, among these being appearances at the Green Man Festival and a headlining set at the Toad Hall stage at the Glastonbury Festival.
‘Traposphere’ is the trio’s focus on a rather unpleasant aspect of internet culture. The song looks at the online communities that are usually referred to as the “manosphere”, in which discussions of masculinity can become linked with misogyny, resentment and false information.
Instead of just condemning the people who find themselves involved in these environments, Bau Cat seem to be concerned with the contradictions inherent in them. The track acknowledges the insecurity and social conditions which can contribute to the growth of such communities, while at the same time making it clear that misogyny and misinformation should be challenged.
In terms of music, ‘Traposphere’ is just as straightforward. It has a nervous and contagious energy and draws on a variety of influences, including The Modern Lovers and The B-52s as well as Orange Juice and early R.E.M. Although there is a clear appreciation for jangling guitars and melodic alternative pop, the band uses these influences as ingredients rather than attempting to copy the sound of another era.
For Bau Cat the single also has a more personal significance; the band regard ‘Traposphere’ as the point at which they have fully become aligned with the sound and creative direction they wish to pursue, the outcome being confident, melodic and intentionally unruly, with a sufficient amount of humour to offset its sharper observations.
The intention behind the recording was to capture the energy present in the band’s live performances. Bau Cat recorded the song at Studio Tecna in Sheffield with David Glover, the producer who has been nominated for the Mercury Prize and who has worked with artists such as Self Esteem and Slow Club. Instead of assembling the track gradually, the three musicians performed together in the same room so that the sound from their amplifiers could naturally bleed into the microphones.
The fact that it used that method together with a minimum of overdubbing is what gives ‘Traposphere’ its raw character; instead of sounding like a heavily polished product made in a studio it seems as if the band were recorded during what was a particularly good night on stage.
The method has already drawn attention, since BBC Radio 6 Music’s Emily Pilbeam featured the track in her BBC 6 Music Mixtape and called it her favourite. The band God Is In The TV has also lauded the song for being “angry, playful and unapologetic in equal measure”.
The growing popularity of Bau Cat has been aided by BBC Introducing, BBC Radio Wales, Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 6 Music and KEXP in Seattle, which has allowed the band to build an audience extending well beyond their home in North Wales.
“Traposphere” is essentially a song concerned with confronting an unpleasant thing without letting that fact weigh you down; Bau Cat make their stance clear through the use of melody, humour and a great deal of energy, and in doing so produce one of their most confident recordings to date.
For a young band which is still establishing its identity, that mix of urgency, humour and fearless songwriting might well turn out to be one of Bau Cat’s greatest strengths.
Liste Traposhere on Spotify:
