ALBUM: NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS - PUSH THE SKY AWAY

Review by Jon Birch

Listen Up Manchester Album Rating: 7/10

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds released their debut album ‘From Her To Eternity’ back in 1984. Now, 15 albums and nearly 30 years later, ‘Push The Sky Away’ sees them at maybe their most dark, poetic and beautiful. Sharing more in common with the seminal 1997 album, ‘The Boatman’s Call’, than their more recent works, this is an album of deep, dark fairy tales told over gentle atmospheric piano.

In a musical sense, it’s a very much a stripped back and minimalist affair. Music here is used to create the atmosphere and Nick Cave’s distinctive baritone is the driving force. The opening track to the album, ‘We No Who U R’ is a poetic and eerie number, with lightly threatening overtones (We know who you are, and we know where you live’) On ‘Waters Edge’, Cave paints a picture of a seedy, apocalyptic underworld where the old men (‘you grow old, and you grow cold’) watch girls dancing on the streets ‘shaking there asses’.

In many ways its perhaps not right to describe these as songs, there more like gothic poetry. The music certainly set the tone but you’re always drawn back to the vocal and Nick Cave’s voice is so enticing, you don’t always need to understand the meaning behind the lyrics. The way they’re delivered is enough.

Another highlight is ‘Jubilee Street’, which is one of the few tracks where the music itself really comes into its own, building and swooping to a climax. In a surreal touch, this is followed in the second half with ‘Finishing Jubilee Street’, a song about the writing of the earlier track.

All in all, it’s a big departure from both 2008’s ‘Dig, Lazarus Dig!’ which was a big, bold confident record and Cave’s side project Grinderman, an outlet for his more loud and frantic offerings. However, it’s certainly not unknown territory and is perhaps one of his more accessible records in recent years. If you’re ready to indulge in some beautiful, yet dark storytelling, like no-one else can offer, there is plenty to intrigue you here.

2013 PREVIEW: ALBUMS

A preview of our most anticipated albums for 2013 - by Jon Birch:

2012 has been a great year for music. We’ve seen established artists like Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young delivering exceptional albums, younger bands such as The Vaccines building on the success of their impressive debut with the solid Come Of Age and new acts like Jake Bugg bursting on to the scene. Thankfully, with the latest apocalypse out of the way and the world still spinning, 2013 looks like its going to another exciting year.

Bffy Clyro will get things under way in style in January with the release of their sixth studio album, Opposites. The follow up to 2009’s Only Revolutions, this promises to be more of the same and will continue to push The Biff toward super stardom. Manchester’s own Johnny Marr releases his long awaited solo album in February and by the looks of the first single (The Messenger) its going to be a cracker. Another of Manchester’s favourite sons, Liam Gallagher will also return with Beady Eye set to release the follow up to Different Gear, Still Speeding later in the year. Liam has commented that this will be the record that should have come after Morning Glory. Without the chief songwriter and lyricist from those early Oasis days, it will be interesting to see how accurate that is.

 

 Continuing on the Manchester theme, The Courteeners release their third album, Anna, early in the year. With the band’s sound evolving from the first album to the second, expect to see even further growth on this record. Across the water, Eels release their 10^th studio album, Wonderful, Glorious. Their debut Beautiful Freak is still a personal favourite and, although there have been up’s and downs along the way, I’m looking forward to what the mercurial E conjures up this time (check out the single Peach Blossom).

Queens Of The Stone Age return to the studio with the multi-talented Dave Grohl back on the drum stool for the first time since his contribution to the bands breakthrough album, Songs For The Deaf, over ten years ago. Grohl remains close friends with Josh Homme following their Them Crooked Vultures adventure and was reported to be very keen to get back in the saddle. Even further across the water, everyone’s favourite Aussie Gothic Rock Poets, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, release their first album in five years with Push The Sky Away.

What new artists to look out for? Well we will be doing a special feature of new bands & artists for 2013 in the next few days. And I'm sure there will be many more quality albums along the way in 2013 so keep an eye on Listen Up Manchester as always for gig and CD reviews and live photos.

COVER: NICK CAVE DOES PULP

Just came across this gem - Nick Cave covering Pulp's Disco 2000 and felt the need to share it! Enjoy!!!