While I was listening to the new album of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds “Wild God” I read his reviews in the international press. One of mine particularly struck me, that of Alexis Petridis in The Guardian.
Petridis is a journalist I read often. I like his writing and his opening of windows in reasoning. In Cave's review he gives it five stars, which is the maximum, and begins with a statement that made me think a lot about the meaning that music should have: “this masterpiece will make you fall in love with life again!”.
Petridis' intro reminded me of a romantic thought of mine about music, that is, that when you listen to a record, just like when you read a book, watch a film or admire a work of art, you should be overwhelmed by a complete sensory experience that involves you, makes your mind travel and opens up your emotional world.
Then I read the press notes of the album and I find Cave's own comment about it:
It’s a complicated record, but also deeply and joyfully infectious,” says Nick Cave. “It comes out of the speakers and I’m overwhelmed by it.”
The circle closes. This is my same suggestion, the same feeling I felt when I first listened to “Wild God”, the new seal of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: it overwhelmed me!
Cave, from the height of his 66 years, contemplates the pain, death and suffering, lived and experienced with the deaths of his sons Arthur Cave (15) and Jethro Lazenby (31) in 2015 and 2022, but rediscovers euphoria and an unexpected joy of living that becomes contagious.
Ten soundscapes that embody Cave's path and begin with the orchestral arrangements of Song of the Lake to go through falls and relapses, doubts and faith, pains and ghosts until reaching the center and essence in the track Joy, moving, uplifting, overwhelming, a hymn to resilience and the ability of love to illuminate even the darkest moments.
Bright, triumphant metaphors of love
Bright, triumphant metaphors of love
Blind us all who care to stand and look beyond and care to stand and look beyond above
There are moments on the record that fondly touch on the Bad Seeds' past, but they are fleeting and serve only to impress upon the band's relentless, restless forward motion.
An album played, conceived and produced by Cave and Warren Ellis and mixed by David Fridmann. During sessions at Miraval in Provence and Soundtree in London, the Bad Seeds added their unique chemistry, with the additional participation of Colin Greenwood (bass) and Luis Almau (classical guitar, acoustic guitar).
The prince of darkness converts to his “Wild God” and perhaps finds the light again and is enlightened and illuminating like never before!
MUST LISTEN NOW
Song of the Lake – Joy – Conversion –
MUST SKIPP NOW
44 minutes of full musical experience that overwhelms you and makes you enter his world.
SCORE: 8.00
1. Song of the Lake – Rating 8.50
2. Wild God – Score 7.50
3. Frogs – Score 8.00
4. Joy – Score 9.50
5. Final Rescue Attempt – Rating 7.50
6. Conversion – Score 8.50
7. Cinnamon Horses – Rating 8.00
8. Long Dark Night – Rating 7.50
9. O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is) – Rating 8.00
10. As the Waters Cover the Sea
THE VOTES OF OTHERS
The Guardian: Vote 10
The Independent: Vote 10
Classic Rock: Rating 9.00
Uncut: Rating 9.00
Mojo: Rating 8.00
Nme: Vote 8.00
Rolling Stone (USA) Rating 7.00
