Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Wild God (Album Review)
Wednesday, 04 September 2024
Written by Tom Morgan
Photo: Megan Cullen
Analysing Nick Cave’s music has become an increasingly difficult proposition for two reasons. Firstly, his outspoken views reveal a deeply complex, contradictory man. Secondly, recent unfathomably tragic life events have lent an oppressive emotional intensity to his accomplished catalogue.
Cave’s music was rarely restrained, but over the course of the past decade he and his bandmates in the Bad Seeds have reached transcendent new heights. Their previous full length — 2019’s ‘Ghosteen’ — is arguably the last true masterpiece of the 2010s; a record of such pointed artistry it could be read as the final soul-searching word on a decade that ended with humanity in a spiral.
‘Wild God’ retains that album’s spiritual confusion and musical ambition, marrying it to a more ornate sonic palette and a worldview that dares to see specks of light.
It remains a deeply emotional experience, as proved by the gospel-rock of Conversion and country ballad Long Dark Night, though never does it feel maudlin or defeatist.
“We’ve all had too much sorrow, now is the time for joy,” Cave declares on Joy. It’s a fragile but hopeful sentiment, particularly given the previous lines about a ghostly vision of a “flaming boy” (Cave’s 15-year-old son Arthur died in 2015). O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is) is similarly optimistic, though it ends with a heartbreaking voice note from Cave’s deceased ex-partner.
‘Wild God’ is a rich, stirring record, one whose worldview is best summed up by another line from Joy: “All across the world they shout out their angry words about the end of love, yet the stars stand above the Earth.”
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Sat November 02 2024 - LEEDS first direct Arena
Sun November 03 2024 - GLASGOW OVO Hydro
Tue November 05 2024 - MANCHESTER AO Arena
Wed November 06 2024 - CARDIFF Utilita Arena Cardiff
Fri November 08 2024 - LONDON O2 Arena
Sat November 09 2024 - LONDON O2 Arena
Tue November 12 2024 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Wed November 13 2024 - DUBLIN 3Arena
Fri November 15 2024 - BIRMINGHAM BP Pulse Live
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
.jpg)
