Wild God Nick Cave Grieves with a Smile on His Face
The last decade has not been easy for Nick Cave. The loss of his two sons must have been a horrific experience. Fortunately, music is not just an art form for Cave, but a kind of authentic therapy that physically draws the listener into his world and establishes a deep emotional connection with him.
The album Wild God is not just a continuation of previous work, in which the singer tried to cope with the loss of his loved ones. Indeed, Cave on records is different from Cave during live shows where his incredible interaction with the audience feels almost tangible. It's as if Cave needs to compensate for his losses with his fans right on stage, joking with them and singing and laughing about his mental anguish and pain. The new songs on Wild God offer both darkness and light at the end of the tunnel, which transforms into a well-deserved happiness and joy of simply existing, transcending its own shadow with every step.
Maybe that's why the Bad Seeds sound much more like a supporting band than on previous recordings. The surreal orchestration coupled with the synthpop sound and gospel choirs has a touch of Christian ritual (especially the song "Frogs" about the biblical Cain and Abel) with Cave in the lead role. But Nick doesn't preach, he speaks emphatically, mobilising the religious characters, drawing them into allegorical narratives, not trying to stifle his unsettled feelings, but rather sharing them with everyone.
Gothic elegies surge to the surface in "Joy," an ethereal lullaby, but they also dominate the piano-driven gospel song "O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)," a tribute to the late friend, singer and member of The Bad Seeds, Anita Lane. Analogue synths unleash psychedelia on "Final Rescue Attempt," but Nick is more confident in his delivery than ever before. He paints surreal colours, thematically different and colourful at the same time; of light, of a woman bathing in a lake, of the inevitable end.
He meditates, he grieves, but at the same time, he entertains, as in the title track "Wild God", in which he dadaistically plays with words with a sombre tone. The fast tempo continues in the ballad "Long Dark Night" where anxious and reflective moods go hand in hand. The final "As The Waters Cover The Sea" with a beautiful introspective piano line closes the whole gospel adventure.
What can you appreciate about the album as musicians?
Wild God is a sonic masterpiece where the production highlights Cave's voice, which sounds more vulnerable than ever. The album combines elements of ambient electronics with traditional acoustic instruments, creating a hypnotic and dreamlike atmosphere. Warren Ellis, Cave's longtime collaborator, once again brings his signature violin and synth playing to give the tracks a mysterious and otherworldly feel.
Nick's return to mystical and spiritual themes, which he intertwines with his characteristic melancholy and poetry, is further enhanced by his personal themes. The album Wild God revolves around ideas of divinity, faith and human frailty. Here, Cave explores questions of life, death and the meaning of existence, themes that have long been central to his work. However, there is an even greater sense of depth and introspection on this album, as if Cave is personally coming to terms with his own demons and the wonders of the world. The lyrics are deep and often lyrical, oscillating between sorrow and hope, darkness and light.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Wild God
Bad Seed, 00:44:26
ambient/pop/rock
80 %
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