An Cat Dubh

In the early 1990s, Andreas Reich, once a member of Paddy Goes to Holyhead, launched An Cat Dubh in Darmstadt, Germany, as an outlet for his Celtic rock vision. Compared with his earlier band, the group emphasized electric guitars more heavily and delivered vocals with greater aggression, resulting in a harder-edged overall sound. The band leaned toward traditional material rather than original compositions, particularly across its first three releases: Totally out of Time, Black is the Colour, and Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Their fourth project, the live album The Black Cat's Around, was captured in their hometown and showcased the best-known songs from those initial studio efforts. Upon emerging from the studio again in 1998 with Long Time No See, the ensemble presented a markedly altered approach; that release contained only three traditional numbers and introduced several tracks penned by drummer Stefan that reflected his—and, by extension, the band’s—doubts and hostility toward organized religion. Classics Collection appeared in 1999, assembling fifteen tracks drawn from the group’s 1992–1995 recordings.