Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

DIG, LAZARUS, DIG!!!

When I heard that Nick Cave described the new Bad Seeds album would "sound like Grinderman" my heart sank somewhat. I've been an avid Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds fan since I was introduced to No More Shall We Part and when I hear news of anything new by Nick Cave I long for it to have the same melancholy atmosphere that is present on No More Shall We Part.

Whenever I actually hear any new Nick Cave material I realise that my wish for homogeneity is naive and I proceed to devour whatever he releases with enthusiasm. Anyway, to the music, there's a tongue in cheek lyrical (and musical) theme present throughout the entirety of DIG, LAZARUS, DIG!!! that is somewhat akin to the mood of excitement that is the lifeblood of The Abattoir Blues (Cave's previous release with The Bad Seeds). Despite the absence of Blixa Bargeld, the guitar playing is typical driven by it's use of dissonance, noise and feedback but tasteful in the quieter, more melancholy, tracks such as Hold on to Yourself.


















Cave's erratic vocal style perfectly fits the frustration and confusion expressed by the main character (affectionately dubbed "Larry" by Cave) after his impromptu resurrection from the dead. Lazarus, fresh with delirium, commences a debauched tour of the USA while Cave documents his antics and moral dilemmas. One has the feeling that through this record Nick Cave is exorcising his self confessed trauma in relation to the story of Lazarus of Bethany and this is particularly evident in the title track as Cave wails "he never asked to be raised from the tomb, nobody actually asked him to forsake his dream". Whatever Cave's motives for creating this album he's certainly created a piece of music that is light-hearted, complex in the issues it tackles and brilliant. In the run up to the Bad Seeds album (whenever that may be) I'll be sure not to expect another No More Shall We Part and then maybe, if there is one, it'll be a pleasant surprise. [8]

Buy it here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dig-Lazarus-Nick-Cave-Seeds/dp/B000ZN258M/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1204887869&sr=8-2