Back in the summer, as lockdown continued to bite, Nick Cave walked back into our lives with a streaming event that felt of the moment and also exemplary of his otherworldly ability to create an escapist space with his music. Through a series of intricate piano ballads captured at Alexandra Palace in London, Cave presented a medley of timeless classics that showcased a lifetime of graft and emotion.
We’re now dislocated from that original performance by the passing of time, but from the eerie, atmospheric introduction of Spinning Song, we can feel our skin prickle with anticipation. Soft, spoken words guide us into what can only be described as one of the most exquisite live albums of them all.
There is such beauty in the solemnity and solitude of ‘Idiot Prayer (Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace)’. From the gorgeous, familiar melancholy of Into My Arms to the raw agony of Euthanasia, these re-worked gemstones allow us to witness with unwavering clarity how Cave’s music has matured.
We feel every crack in his crooned vocals as memories flood back, while pain and passion are placed together to thrive, a dynamic that can be heard with Cave’s gentle laughter breaking through at the close of (Are You) the One That I’ve Been Waiting For?.
As Cave pours heart and soul into his piano, ‘Idiot Prayer’ defines a stark episode in history, where forlorn feelings fluctuate across a world in isolation. We as a collective had indefinite time to reflect and reminisce on what had passed us by. In many ways, it’s easy to wonder if ‘Idiot Prayer’ will be remembered as a musical memoir, forever etched within this era.
From the perspective of ageing, the album is both chilling and comforting, yet so unflinchingly honest. ‘Idiot Prayer’ is a raw and triumphant work of genius that opens up a man once so daringly reckless as he embraces every aspect of himself with inspiring profundity. Transcendent and compellingly beautiful, this deserves to be cherished long into the future.
Nick Cave Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat April 10 2021 - ANTWERP Sportpaleis (Belgium)
Sun April 11 2021 - AMSTERDAM Ziggo Dome (Netherlands)
Tue April 13 2021 - BIRMINGHAM Arena Birmingham
Thu April 15 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Fri April 16 2021 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sun April 18 2021 - LEEDS first direct Arena
Tue April 20 2021 - GLASGOW SSE Hydro
Wed April 21 2021 - MANCHESTER Arena
Fri April 23 2021 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Sat April 24 2021 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Mon April 26 2021 - CARDIFF Motorpoint Arena
Wed April 28 2021 - PARIS AccorHotels Arena (France)
Thu April 29 2021 - COLOGNE Lanxess Arena (Germany)
Sat May 01 2021 - COPENHAGEN Royal Arena (Denmark)
Sun May 02 2021 - COPENHAGEN Royal Arena (Denmark)
Tue May 04 2021 - STOCKHOLM Ericsson Globe (Sweden)
Wed May 05 2021 - OSLO Spektrum (Norway)
Fri May 07 2021 - HAMBURG Barclaycard Arena (Germany)
Sat May 08 2021 - BERLIN Mercedes Benz Arena (Germany)
Mon May 10 2021 - GLIWICE Arena Gliwice (Poland)
Wed May 12 2021 - VIENNA Stadthalle (Austria)
Thu May 13 2021 - BUDAPEST László Papp Budapest Sportaréna (Hungary)
Sat May 15 2021 - BELGRADE Stark Arena (Serbia)
Mon May 17 2021 - PRAGUE O2 Arena (Czech Republic)
Wed May 19 2021 - MUNICH Olympiahalle (Germany)
Thu May 20 2021 - MILAN Mediolanum Forum (Italy)
Sun May 23 2021 - MADRID WiZink Center (Spain)
Mon May 24 2021 - LISBON Coliseu de Lisboa (Portugal)
Thu May 27 2021 - BARCELONA Palau Sant Jordi (Spain)
Fri May 28 2021 - TOULOUSE Zenith Metropole (France)
Mon May 31 2021 - ROME Palazzo dello Sport (Italy)
Thu June 03 2021 - ZURICH Hallenstadion (Switzerland)
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