Often a title like “Dead Cat Song” might act as a placeholder, or perhaps name a throwaway or demo lyric in a notebook that won’t see the light of day. But Creepy Crawly – a.k.a. Manchester’s Rachel Cawley – says no, this is a song based on a childhood story about a dead cat’s bones, and it’s going out to the world.
“Dead Cat Song” is the third single from Cawley’s upcoming album I Feel It On My Skin (out June 5th), following “Buttercup” (which we’ve already covered) and “Letting Go”. The new single features Cawley’s lush synth and guitar sounds and layered vocals — touchstones of Creepy Crawly’s music — as well as energy that ebbs and flows with the storytelling.
Those ebbs and flows involve — as I’ve mentioned — emotions around digging up cat bones. The story goes: Many years ago during school holiday, Cawley decided to dig a hole in the garden flower bed outside her house, as British television had inspired an interest in archaeology. She found bones, froze them in ice cream tubs, and presented the findings to her mother. Only when she saw her mother’s horrified face did Cawley realize her mistake.
Music is a surefire way to help process childhood trauma, and “Dead Cat Song” is a good example. It’s another taste of the vulnerability Cawley will feature on the upcoming album. And while Cawley admits to us that “it might not be for everyone”, we tend to disagree. The music’s very good, and hey, who hasn’t found dark secrets as a child which scarred their brain for life?
Take a listen to the new single and follow Creepy Crawly on their social platforms below:
Written by Will Sisskind
