NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS レコード& CD

Review: RECOMMENDED
In a word - epic. Nick Cave has never been one to shy away from presenting his work in commanding, theatrical, operatic ways, and this compilation of half-known cuts, covers, and barely heard tracks is probably the best example you're going to find of that, on record. Losing count at around 30 songs is just one case in point.

The collection is expansive to the point of becoming overwhelming, but more remarkably still, everything on here deserves to be loved. And we really do mean everything. Running through the highlights would be reductive, but stylistically this isn't an easy one to summarise either. As such let's leave it with this. From the raw, pared back percussion of 'Black Betty' to the heartfelt homage to The Pogues on 'Rainy Night In Soho', you can rest assured whatever your poison, it's on here.

Review: Now you've stopped shouting "there's a new Nick Cave album" at everyone who walks past, comes near or might possibly be in earshot it's about time we dived into the contents of the legendary troubadour's 17th studio album. Be warned, though, what lies beneath is deep and immersive enough to drown in, and even the most effective divers wouldn't find a body. A suitably morose introduction, we think. Digressions aside, "Ghosteen" is a majestic, powerful, operatic experience that will change nobody's opinion of Cave and his band, The Bad Seeds. The works are just as innovative, poignant, graceful, melancholic, euphoric and inescapable as ever. Too many adjectives? We're making no apologies. Consider the title number, if that's not too obvious a focal point. Sparse yet grandiose, narrative driven but metaphorical, organic and earthy yet making incredible use of a theremin. Almost impossibly good, sit back and let it wash over your mind.