Musical perfection is what has come to be expected from the alternative Aussies and fans of The Bad Seeds will hear just that delivered on their 15th studio album, Push The Sky Away.
This is the first studio album without founding member Mick Harvey, who died in 2009.
Although not suited to everyone’s musical tastes, and having been criticized for ‘jumping genres’ and releasing ‘complicated music’ in the past, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are hard to get into. Once you overcome that hurdle, the band become difficult to switch off.
This album is very different from their previous more post-punk, alternative rock pieces of work. The men who brought to life ‘O’ Children’, ‘Henry Lee’ and ‘Brother, My Cup is Empty’ serve us up something more stripped down and acoustic than what their fans are used to.
The album starts off with the mellow ‘We No Who U R’, which sets the tone with an electronic organ, simple lyrics and melodic backing singers. The pace picks up with track two ‘Wide Lovely Eyes’ and its luring guitars and keyboard.
Each track goes from a high to a low, sticking to a similar leisurely pace. I recommend the haunting celtic tones of ‘Water’s Edge’ and the beautiful, mainly instrumental ‘Finishing Jubilee Street’.
Overall this is a very minimalistic album from the London-formed rock group and could be accused of being hollow, but it’s that minimalism that is the attraction for many listeners. Behind the simple arrangements hide some serious claws – deep drums and haunting electronics.
All this sung in Nick Cave’s alluring voice. I’m in, who’s with me?
RATING: 4/5
Zofia Domaracka
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