Let the reckless abandon begin with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on 'Wild God'
It's time to cut loose, and this new album ain't for the faint-hearted. Nick Cave is embracing the chaos, and anything that feels good is fair game. The tension builds as an unholy storm brews, and it's all sorts of delicious.
Nick Cave, the piano man with a voice like thunder, has seen his fair share of darkness. His son Arthur (15) passed in 2015, followed by his half-brother Jethro (30) in 2022. But the darkness has been a constant companion in Cave's artistic life, and it's been a dominant force in his personal life as well. Who can console a soul in such tumultuous times? God? Art? Or perhaps the simple, cathartic embrace of rock 'n' roll?
Five years on from their last offering, "Ghosteen," and the Divine is pulling out all the stops for this latest masterpiece. Titled "Wild God," their eighteenth studio output, this ain't a mourning album, but a testament to life and all its intricacies. Love, joy, hope, despair - if it's part of the human experience, you'll find it all here, and it's up to you, the listener, to weave the threads together.
Life goes on somehow, even when love ones are taken from us. Death is just a transition, not an end, neither for the departed nor for those left behind. But the joy of life and the constant drive to look forward play just as big a role under the influence of the wild god as the exhausting and debilitating struggle with darkness. Cave takes us on a journey, showing us that even in the face of unimaginable grief, there's always a reason to jump forward.
And so we have the frog in the gutter, a symbol of hope and resilience. The song "Frogs" tells the tale of a frog, sitting in the gutter, wallowing in despair. But the frog doesn't give up hope; it jumps forward, keeping the fight alive. The death of Cave's partner Anita Lane is processed with bubbling melodies, vocoder tricks, and a phone recording of Lane laughing. Death and grief don't have to be synonymous with despair; sometimes they mix with underlying joy, a testament to the complexity of the human experience.
The return to rock 'n' roll is a nod to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' roots. "Wild God" breaks free from traditional song structures, instead offering up a soundscape of intensity. It's a nod to free thinking, experimental music, gripping dynamics, and a return to the basics. The album is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from the pain-distorted pathos of "Song of the Lake" to the life-affirming pulsating beat of "Cinnamon Horses," and finally the intricate fireworks of "O Wow O Wow."
After many valleys and peaks, the album reaches for the heavens, and then comes back down, landing just shy of the chamber music Olympus. Grief is still present, but somehow it's also gone. When the last note of the album fades into the distance, you're left with a sense of positivity in your ears, eager for another spin.
"Wild God" is a raw exploration of life, death, grief, and joy, a testament to Nick Cave's resilience and artistic prowess. It's a journey through the storm, and even amidst the chaos, the jewels of the human experience shine brightly. In short, it's a must-listen for anyone who's ever felt the sting of loss or the warmth of love. So crank up the volume and let the wild god take you on a ride you won't forget!
