East Side Catz: A Wavy Little Time Capsule from 2003
Alright, let’s talk about East Side Catz by Slater Hogan & John Larner. It’s one of those albums that sneaks up on you like a cat in the dark—quiet at first, but once it sinks its claws in, you’re hooked. Released back in 2003 under Gallery Records, this electronic gem blends jazzdance and house vibes with just enough swagger to keep your toes tapping and your brain vibing.
First off, kudos to the dynamic duo themselves. Both producers AND mixers? That’s some serious multitasking right there. You can tell they weren’t phoning it in; every beat feels intentional, like they knew exactly how to nudge listeners into a groove without being all up-in-your-face about it.
Now, onto the tracks. The titular banger, “East Side Catz,” is where the magic starts. This track is smooth as butter melting on a stack of pancakes—warm, inviting, and kinda makes you wanna wiggle around even if no one’s watching. There’s something hypnotic about the way the synths swirl together with that steady bassline. Honestly, it’s the kind of tune that could soundtrack a late-night drive through neon-lit streets or a lazy Sunday morning coffee ritual. Either way, it sticks with you.
Then there’s “Jazz Thang (Lance DeSardi’s Beefed-Up Veggie Re-Edit).” Don’t ask me what’s beefy or veggie about it—I’m guessing Lance was hungry when he named it—but damn, does this remix slap. It takes the original vibe and cranks it up a notch, throwing in some jazzy piano riffs and drum patterns sharp enough to cut glass. Every time I hear it, I imagine myself strutting down the street wearing sunglasses at night, feeling untouchable. You know, peak cool-kid energy.
What makes East Side Catz special isn’t just its slick production—it’s the personality oozing out of every note. These guys clearly had fun making it, and that joy translates straight to the listener. Sure, it’s not gonna change your life or anything, but sometimes music doesn’t need to be profound. Sometimes it just needs to make you move, smile, or forget for a hot second that bills exist.
So yeah, props to Slater Hogan and John Larner for crafting an album that still holds up nearly two decades later. It’s quirky, confident, and unapologetically itself—which, honestly, is more than we can say for most things these days. If cats ruled the world, East Side Catz would definitely be their national anthem. Meow.
