Album Review: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds- Wild God

And lo, Nick Cave and his band of Bad Seeds did release their most epic, commercial album thus far. ‘Conversion’ is cinematic, bolstered by a heavenly choir. ‘Frogs’ is similar, and the title track is some kind of attempt to glean joy from adversity. Obviously, there’s some personal stuff in there: O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is) pays tribute to his late partner Anita Lane with a recording of a phone call with her and, bizarrely, the use of a vocoder.

But it sadly often feels like a contrivance, a courting of stadium crowds, and a cynical attempt to become part of the mainstream. There’s nothing wrong with finding happiness (if anyone deserves it it’s him) but in so doing, the band have diluted their own power. Strings and choirs can’t paper over the cracks.

Part of what makes the back catalogue so special is the real sense of light co -existing with darkness, a duality. In only focussing on the bright lights of redemption, he has sanded off the rough edges There are no curve balls, no shocks. It’s treading water. Not his best work by a long shot.

Released by PIAS on August 30th.

http://www.nickcave.com