Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'Nocturama' (Mute)
4/5
By: Thomas Hannan
Now this should get the party started. The first track on Nick Cave's twelfth album (yes, twelfth) with the Bad Seeds, and he's already singing about the 'wonderful, wonderful thing' that is his life. 'Brilliant,' we start to think; the old crooner's finally cheered up a little. But as ever, all is not as it seems. There's also an 'idiot boy in the corner, speaking deviated truths', not to mention those 'dungeons in the air' which you're right to worry about. Next, he invites us to join him, over sultry piano and a guitar effect that conjures a feeling of having pins pulled in and out of your throat. It's hardly the friendliest of invitation cards. In fact, if this is Nick's 'Wonderful Life', you'll probably want none of it. But as with all things residing on the dark side, it's human-nature to want a closer look.
And the view proves thoroughly rewarding. 'Nocturama' is full of The Bad Seeds' trademark piano tinkering, slowly burning and menacingly dark melody, Cave's consistently awing voice and heartbreakingly witty lyrical imagery. So, not much change to talk of here, then. Although this is hardly a radical progression or a great leap in the dark for the seven artists that created this fabulous album, it instead serves as a perfection of their art. This is, in almost all respects, the complete Nick Cave album.
Hopefully, lead single 'Bring It On' will spread that message further. Easily the most accessible (if not the best) track amongst this collection, there's definitely a toe tapping, perhaps overly safe middle of the road element to it all, but the song still keeps close to it's heart whatever mystical quality it is that gives Cave his deserved legend status. There are hints of Tom Waits, even splashes of Springsteen, but you could hardly call these influences. This is still unmistakably Nick Cave.
Because of that, it therefore follows sure as day follows night that this record will not cheer you up in the slightest. It is an inescapable fact that even at its most luscious, this is dense, looming stuff. Hell, even 'the cars outside look like they've got the blues', he sings on the excellent 'Still In Love'. If he can move lumps of metal to depression, you're not going to come out of this feeling exactly jolly. Thank the man though, as this is some fascinating storytelling.
Sometimes nonetheless, you just have to worry. 'That smile you see upon his face, it's been there for many days... there's a dead man in my bed'. OK, let's not panic. The pounding, exceptional 'Dead Man In My Bed' could be a clever allegory for some marriage gone wrong, the absence of love in a serious relationship. Oh, but Nick 'ain't speaking metaphorically'. 'I keep poking at him with my stick, but his skin is just so f**king thick'. Just back away slowly and you'll be fine.
Only the mammoth 15-minute closer 'Babe, I'm On Fire' lets the otherwise consistently inspirational record down. Although respectable enough, it's just a little disheartening that seven fine musicians can play together for so long without coming up with anything slightly more exciting. However, it in no sense takes away from the wealth of magic on show in the previous 40 minutes.
Simply dipping into 'Nocturama' isn't enough, but thankfully it's easy to get completely lost in its threatening beauty. Rarely has listening to this amount of intelligent misery been such an unadulterated joy.
Artists in this article: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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