21st Century Music: Cate Le Bon
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About ten years ago I discovered Cate Le Bon via her album, Mug Museum, and in particular fell hard for its signature song, “Are You with Me Now?” I played the track for friends on various occasions, extolling its virtues. Each time the result was the same, ambivalence.
I am well used to people not sharing my interest in music and certainly not for my tastes. Ceremony, writ large, is a bit of a masochistic project in championing artists who are on the lower end of popularity and commercial success (at least, certainly in North America, where I reside). But I persevere because I love the music and appreciate the varied and often unconventional offerings. I just hope to bring more people to the same appreciation. Consummate to this spirit, we have Cate Le Bon.
Le Bon is not lacking in appreciation. Critics are generally favourable and her 2019 album, Reward, was nominated for the annual Welsh award, the Mercury Prize. In the modern music world, this does not translate to broader success or attention.
Taken apart, either of Cate’s vocals or her music can be off-putting, so there is a double-edged sword in her potential to lose a listener. Her vocals are lilting, making sly, melodic turns and moving seamlessly between spoken word and haunting rises and falls. Her Welsh accent, exacting enunciations, and intriguing phrasings create odd dynamics to the songs. I find her tone and style reminiscent of Nico with the Velvet Underground, though Le Bon is unquestionably a more talented singer (not surprisingly, she performed with John Cale of Velvet Underground in 2018). For me, though, the results are affecting, warm, and inviting – as if she’s moved into your living room and is chilling you out. Her vocals make her songs stand out and grab my ear.
The music is often simple, sparse, angular and jangly. Sharp guitars (played by Le Bon) lay out tricky little melodies over thick rhythms. At times the sound seems off-kilter or out of tune and can stop suddenly or change while in the middle of a groove. Yet the songs are filled with little ear worms that work with her vocals to seep into your brain. The result is a magician’s trick, to appear on the surface as simplistic or dismissable, but then… you find yourself going back, listening to the songs over again, peeling back the layers to get into the little intricacies and to be won over with the clever turns and hooks.
She was born Cate Timothy in the early ‘80s in Penboyr, Wales. She adopted the stage name, Le Bon, in tribute to the Duran Duran lead singer, Simon Le Bon. Her career started in the early 2000s when Welsh artists were having a moment, not the least of which was Super Furry Animals, whose singer, Gruff Rhys, took Le Bon under his wing and gave her an opening slot on the band’s 2007 tour. After recording an initial LP that was shelved, she saw her first album, Me Oh My, issued in 2010 on Rhys’ indie label, Irony Bored. Mixing folk and ‘60s styled psychedelia and garage rock, the raw edged LP had her signature elements in place, though in raw effect.
Cate and Tim Presley
In 2012, two EPs followed, Cyrk and Cyrk II, which evolved her sound, adding a little more polish, melody, and hookiness. This set things up for her 2013 breakthrough LP, Mug Museum, recorded after she moved to Los Angeles. From the first notes of the assertive, post-punk opener, “I Can’t Help You,” it was clear this was a bolder, fuller Cate, coming at you with more complex compositions and poppier vibes. The retro-styled ballad, “I Think I Knew,” was a duet with American singer, Perfume Genius. There was also more post-punk vibes with, “Sisters.” And of course there was, “Are You with Me Now?,” with its deep baseline, shuffling drums, ultra-hooky chorus, and entrancing guitar interplay riding under Cate’s lovely, simple, charming vocals. And for an extra treat, a bit of wry humour when she threw in a pop-styled lyric, “baby,” in her consummately dry, precise style. When I saw her on tour in 2017 this was clearly the song everyone wanted to hear, and indeed, you got a bit of a self-aware smile when she sang, “baby.” Mug MUseum was solid start to finish and raised Le Bon’s profile.
Her third LP, Crab Day, was issued in 2016 and saw her working more fully with her partner, experimental artist Tim Presley (who performs under the name, White Fence), who she was working with on a project called, DRINKS. They have released two LPs under that name in 2015 and 2018. Crab Day received critical praise but musically was more experimental, more in line with her early releases than Mug Museum.
After an EP, Rock Pool, in 2017, her fourth album arrived in 2019, Reward. This was again a shift in sound and feel, evolving her sound into a moodier, intriguing style. This was evident right from the tense, sublime opening track, “Miami.” Pop vibes were again offered in the song, “Home to You,” while bluesy vibes came across in “The Light.” But there was also no departure from her clever, quirky instincts with the likes of the bouncy, Talking Heads styled, “Magnificent Gestures” (featuring Kurt Vile on guest vocal). The album also used sax to add new, fascinating punctuations and layers to her tunes. Stella Mogzawa (Warpaint) also guested on drums.
Cate as a blonde during her Reward period
It was three years before her next, and most recent LP, Pompeii. Written and recorded during the pandemic, the album leaned more heavily into the moodier, craftier elements that she’d revealed in Reward. The result was her most complete, unified album. Stella was back on drums, the sax continued to add flavour, and critics again praised it and put it on year-end album lists. It’s been a favourite of mine over the past couple years. What has struck me in compiling this playlist is that, as much as Cate has a sound all to herself, her compositions have constantly changed and evolved over her career – a testament to her talent and creativity.
Cate is also a sought-after collaborator. She has played on albums by Gruff Rhys’ project, Neon Neon, Kevin Morby, fellow Welsh rockers, Manic Street Preachers, and most recently on St. Vincent’s LP, All Born Screaming. She has also remixed an Eleanor Frieberger track and co-produced and played on Deerhunter’s most recent LP, Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared? (2019). Cate and Bradford Cox, from Deerhunter, also released an album, Myths004, that same year.
Le Bon sported this interesting hooded garment during promo photos for Pompeii, which also saw her wearing a nun’s habit on the album cover and in videos. During performances she would sometimes wear a chainmail hood, like a medieval knight.
As a performer, Le Bon is quiet and understated. She has donned some interesting fashions and changed her look over the years, all of which has added to her mysterious allure. I’ve twice seen her live in Toronto, in 2017 (at Velvet Underground) and 2022 (at The Great Hall), and her shows are fantastic. Her unique sound sets her performances apart from the usual parade of indie rockers. It’s also nice for us fans that we can see such a talented artist in small venues, but it’s a sign of her limited appeal that she doesn’t draw larger audiences.
Hopefully this playlist reveals the charm, talent, and appeal of Cate Le Bon and her music. If it doesn’t click at first, give it a second and third try, and you might be surprised at how strongly it draws you in. She has been one of my favourite artists of the past ten years and I eagerly look forward to where she goes next.
The Playlist - song\album (year)
“Sad Sad Feet” \ My Oh My (2010)
“Hollow Trees House Hounds” \ My Oh My (2010)
“Fold the Cloth” \ Cyrk EP (2012)
“What is Worse” \ Cyrk II EP (2012)
“January” \ Cyrk II EP (2012)
“I Can’t Help You” \ Mug Museum (2013)
“Are You with Me Now?” \ Mug Museum (2013)
“I Think I Knew” (w/ Perfume Genius) \ Mug Museum (2013)
“Sisters” \ Mug Museum (2013)
“Hermits on Holiday” (as DRINKS) \ Hermits on Holiday (2015)
“I’m A Dirty Attic” \ Crab Day (2016)
“What’s Not Mine” \ Crab Day (2016)
“I Just Wanna Be Good” \ Rock Pool EP (2017)
“Miami” \ Reward (2019)
“Home to You” \ Reward (2019)
“The Light” \ Reward (2019)
“Magnificent Gestures” \ Reward (2019)
“Moderation” \ Pompeii (2022)
“Pompeii” \ Pompeii (2022)
“Harbour” \ Pompeii (2022)
“Running Away” \ Pompeii (2022)
“Wheel” \ Pompeii (2022)
