No More Shall We Part - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Writing about Nick Cave in relation to other "pop" music is becoming increasingly pointless, as with each magnificent album he moves further & further away from the pack into that rarefied atmosphere occupied only by the likes of Brel, Walker, Cohen & Waits, that of the timeless artist whose work is so utterly unfashionable that it will never age. His previous album, 1997's "The Boatman's Call", was something of a diversion; a collection of personal, often confessional ballads, sparingly accompanied by piano and bass and very little else. Although it featured two of his greatest songs ("Into My Arms" and "People ...  Read the complete review

The new album by Nick Cave is phenomenal. If i thought that he couldn't surpass The Boatman's Call, then i am truly mistaken. This album sees Cave in just as broody, reflective mood as ever, yet there is a difference here. As we now know from various interviews given regarding promotion of this masterpiece, He is now married again, this time to Susie Bick. This marriage seems to have made him more secure, yet conversely, on the title track, it is as if he is resigned to the notion of being entwined with this person, rather than being truly enthralled about the prospect. Yet this deceives i think, for the way in which he sings the words reveal a man much ...  Read the complete review

No more Shall We Part in my opinion is Mr Cave's singularly most beautifully haunting and tragically melancholy album. To quote one reviewer, "This is not a record to which you can listen lightly; if used as background music it will gradually darken your mood, like poison seeping slowly into a well." This album takes you in with it's beauty, rings you out with it's harrowing pain and leaves you emotionally exhausted - yet you'll keep coming back for more! Gone are the murder ballads to be replaced by beautifully crafted songs of mournfully tragic love - seeming obsessed by detail and minutiae - but working even better because of ...  Read the complete review

The good news is that Nick Cave is as depressing as ever. While fellow downbeats PJ Harvey and Richard Ashcroft have become suddenly and uncharacteristically happy, Cave has suffered no such enlightenment. Indeed, Cave is sounds more depressed than ever. No More Shall We Part is the Cave's first new material for four years, following 1997's The Boatman's Call. During that time the man and his band have lost none of the spark. Cave is one of those important artists who has a virtual monopoly of success within his chosen area. But the lack of competition has not led to any lowering of standards. The strained sound of Cave's ...  Read the complete review