Nick Cave - Nocturama
Published January 20, 2003
Be honest, Nick Cave is much better in theory than in reality: a deep voiced ex-punk (The Birthday Party) gothic-cabaret singer/songwriter preoccupied with ennui, entropy, violence, betrayal, death, decay and minor chords, and blessed with a great band (The Bad Seeds including stalwarts Mick Harvey and Blixa Bargeld).
Unfortunately, his prolific, steady output tends to run together after an early burst of melodic freedom upon release from the frenetic horror that was the Birthday Party. The last album I really liked was The Good Son from 1990, which also sported his last moment of real brilliance, "The Weeping Song," wherein his preoccupation with human archetypes hit mythic depth.
But all of that is past tense now: Cave's forthcoming Nocturama produced by Nick Launay, finally fulfills his promise, and is the best album of its brooding, touching, post-ironic sort since Tindersticks' classic first album.
Cave's voice has aged into his bravado-of-the-weary performing persona, and he has a new ease with himself that if it doesn't reflect internal peace, at least reflects a peace with not finding peace. Most importantly, this time out he has the songs, not just overextended lugubrious vamps.
Any previous familiarity with Cave naturally would lead to the presumption that the CD's opener, "It's a Wonderful Life," would in fact be a venomous antiperistalsis of bile and sarcasm ridiculing the very notion that life could be wonderful - instead it is a lovely, measured meditation that acccepts the reality of a "wonderful life," but is all the sadder because of the difficulty of finding it:
- Sometimes our secrets are all we've got
With our lives we must defend
Sometimes the air between us, babe
Is unbearably thin
Sometimes it's wise to lay down your gloves
And just give in
Come in, come in
Come in, come in
To this wonderful life
"He Wants You" is almost country-like in its simplicity, beautiful piano line, and unalloyed sincerity - it's a very weird thing coming out of Nick Cave and you keep waiting for the twist, but it never comes:
- Beneath the hanging cliffs and under the many stars where
He will move, all amongst your tangled hair
And deep into the sea
And you will wake and walk and draw the blind
And feel some presence there behind
And turn to see what that may be
Oh, babe, it's me
Appositely continuing the surprising tale, "Right Out of Your Hand" looks exactly at the twist of no twist, casting himself as an "old lion" defanged at last in a pasture of sweet resignation:
- Nick Cave - Nocturama
- Published: January 20, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock
- Writer: Eric Olsen
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I saw him once and he was very powerful - lots of people are better live than on record for any number of reasons, but this one finally works as a record.
I'm sure you'll like it (Anti in America, still Mute everywhere else).
Anti in America, still Mute everywhere else
Wouldn't that make a great slogan for a band? I'm going to post it on my site.
As for Nick Cave, while I wasn't that enthused about his last two albums, I still think "Henry's Dream" is one of his best albums, and while I never got a poster for "The Good Son", maybe with the kiddie pr0n hysteria, that is a good thing.
As for the Anti, I have an emusic account, so it will be available in about two weeks.
Some of my best lines are unintentional.
I thought The Boatman's Call was superb, but I'm older than you guys... Nick's duet with Shane MacGowan on "What A Wonderful World" would have to be on my "31 Songs" list... And be sure to track down Track "Zero" from the X-Files TV soundtrack...
Hazy Dave, been there, done that, got all of them. Do you have the "Dogs In Space" soundtrack with The Boys Next Door?
How about buying "Johnny Suede" for the Nick Cave appearance. Plus the Live Seedsw album with the photo book, and the double gatefold vinyl of My Funeral, Your Trial, etc.
The Boatman's Call was good, but I was somewhat "meh" about it because it doesn't really have any dynamic.
I'm only a casual fan, I don't have anything like a complete collection, just thought I'd highlight a couple "non-LP" favorites. I don't really miss the ranting side of Cave on The Boatman's Call, but I understand that Birthday Party fans must miss that. I stumbled upon a late night talk show with Cave and some Bad Seeds playing "Into My Arms" and was blown away...
Add your comment, speak your mind
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Eric, I only got about two lines in and had to comment, so if this sounds like bullshit, it probably is.
I first saw Nick Cave in Montreal (the show is on a video / DVD of the Bad Seeds on tour) and I knew of him from The Birthday Party (long arguement about Junkyard, junk or better off in the yard).
And then I saw him live (got in for free, was working The Wolfgang Press - where are they now?) and he just blew me away. You have to keep in mind this was in a 1920s theatre, a perfect setting. But he just nailed it including an extended Isaac Hayes version of "By The Time I Get To Pheonix". He just came out on the stage, grabbed everybit of attention in the room and made one of the most memorable performances I've ever seen.
I've seen him about five times (and a friend who has visited London England has seen him twice at this restaurant, which it turns out Cave owns). I eagerly await his new record. And it's on Anti (home of Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Merle Haggard).