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Nick Cave
Abattoir Blues / Lyre of Orpheus
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Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen,
Nick
Cave
...all of a kind - eccentric, skewed to the darker side of life (and death), each with an instantly recognizable voice and uncanny lyrical ability. And all three have released new discs within the last few weeks. I haven't had a chance to form a full opinion of the Waits or Cohen CDs, although I'm leaning toward somewhat less than stellar on at least one of the two.
Now,
Nick
Cave
...It sounds like Nick and the boys are on the Viagra. This is the most virile, smashing, goth/post-punk-rock Cave and The Bad Seeds have EVER released (going back to their first album, 1984's 'From Her to Eternity', when they were just young lads, well, 20 years ago). Now, mind you, this applies more to disc one of this two-disc set, 'Abattoir Blues', which is the "harder" (pun intended) disc. Disc two, 'The Lyre of Orpheus', is the softer, post-coital, though hardly cuddly, cigarette after. (And to prove how hard we TAP reviewers work for our valued readers, we checked the meaning of 'abattoir' for you - like you knew, sure! - it's from the old French for 'slaughterhouse', a perfectly fitting
Nick
Cave
mental picture, if we do say so ourselves.) Get down with your Bad Seeds and your bad self,
Nick
Cave
- this set's a real winner!
Long-time lead-guitarist Blixa Bargeld has departed The Bad Seeds fold. This may, or may not, explain the new, expansive, more encompassing, all-together more inviting sound herein - not really a changed Nick Cave ethos, more of a change in the accessability of the music itself. Cave raises both arms high to spread his black-caped wings and cast an all-inclusive shadow that, at once, encompasses and eclipses everything he's done in the past (including his very early band The Birthday Party). This set makes a somewhat (relatively) joyful noise (in the
Nick
Cave
context), only at times resembling later Tom Waits racket/skronk. Cave's is a more melodious pounding and thumping, complete with female background-singer pseudo-Seeds that, at times, resemble the fire and brimstone of evangelical fervor as if trying to raise the dead, at others a gospel choir, and, at still others, a soothing liner in Cave's softer coat.
While this writer has never been a real fanatic of Cave and The Seeds, we are familiar with their work and count 1997's 'The Boatman's Call' and 2001's 'No More Shall We Part' among our favorite discs. This new two-disc set has captured our heart and we are a huge fanatic of this release! Disc one, 'Abattoir Blues', is all pounding, full-speed-ahead rocking mode. "Get Ready For Love" starts the disc with a pile-driving head-turner...all background singers, Hammond B3 and a nice, single-line distorto guitar lead. This one definitely signals you to get ready, whether for love, or the rest of this disc! This is the best Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds (NCaTBS) have rocked in ages, if not ever! "Cannibal's Hymn" is as close as Cave has come to a successful power-ballad - wah-wah, beat-keeping guitar, huge drums, suitably strange lyrics, and a nice use of dynamics. (Cave's beautiful baritone has never sounded better than on these two discs.) "Hiding All Away" is a slow, funky strutter that bursts with a surprise wall of guitar salvos. "There She Goes, My Beautiful World" and "Nature Boy" are straight-ahead 4/4 rockers. Cave has never been more melodic on his rockin' stuff. "Abattoir Blues" is all pummeling drums and ominous piano chords. "Let the Bells Ring" is a solid guitar rocker.
'The Lyre of Orpheus' is disc two, the ballad/slower disc, recalling the aforementioned 'The Boatman's Call' and 'No More Shall We Part'. The title cut is a slow, rolling song-story referencing Orpheus and Euridice (if you don't know, we ain't gonna go into "defining" that reference - suffice it to say, Cave is well-read). Good ol' gothic NCaTBS. "Breathless" is flute and acoustic guitar and seemingly doesn't belong on a Cave disc...but it works, showcasing Cave's vocal talent. "Babe, You Turn Me On" (great pick-up line, eh!) is all 6/8 waltz/military drum, bass, piano and acoustic guitar beauty. "Supernaturally" is a hesitating speeder recalling Van Morrison's "The Way Young Lover's Do". Very nice! "Carry Me" starts out all ghostly, quadruple-time skitters that move in to a nice choral resolve. "O Children" is a slow piano ballad, gospel in slo-mo...a goth masquerader.
The two discs and a booklet come in an exquisite textured slip-case at a single disc price (such a deal!). Each disc has its own cardboard album cover and the booklet is of a thick paper stock, and includes all lyrics, some pix, and the very basics as to recording/production info. This set is so obviously first-class all the way, we hope it reaps the awards it so rightfully deserves in every arena.
One suspects this is the culmination of the sound that
Nick
Cave
has been seeking from the start. Welcome to the beginning of a whole new career, Mr. Cave. The recognition has been a long time coming, and is well-deserved! This set easily betters the entirety of 1998's "The Best of Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds". If you haven't cared for previous NCaTBS releases, or if you're new to the band, definitely give this set a listen! Boy, is this one a left-field surprise! Highly recommended. (Not quite 4 1/2 stars, but damn close!)
Release Date: October 26, 2004
Tracks: 17 - Time: 88:46
Produced by: Nick Launay & Nick Cave/Bad Seeds
Format: CD - 2
Website: www.nick-cave.com
Track Listing:
Disc One:
Get Ready For Love / Cannibals Hymn / Hiding All Away / Messiah Ward / There She Goes, My Beautiful World / Nature Boy / Abattoir Blues / Let the Bells Ring / The Fable of the Brown Ape.
Disc Two:
The Lyre of Orpheus / Breathless / Babe, You Turn Me On / Easy Money / Supernatually / Spell / Carry Me / O Children.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds:
Nick Cave - Vocals / Piano
Mick Harvey - Guitar
Thomas Wydler - Drums / Percussion
Conway Savage - Piano
James Johnston - Organ
Martyn P Casey - Bass
Warren Ellis - Bouzouky / Mandolin / Violin / Flute.
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