Push the Sky Away by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Yesterday saw the release of the new album by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Push the Sky Away. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece.

With incredible musicianship by the band and skilled production by Nick Launay, Push the Sky Away is beautiful and gentle and surly and twisted in that special Bad Seeds way, a majestic marvel of warmth and restraint. It’s not the kind of album that makes you think maybe you’d like to make some music; it’s the kind of album that makes you think you might as well give up.

If Push the Sky Away is not short-listed for the Mercury Music Prize, then, kids, there ain’t no justice.

Stunning.

Another Nick Cave dream

We see Nick Cave give a talk in a small room beneath a record shop. A small crowd, an intimate gathering. At the end he asks if there’s any questions. A couple of people ask this and that, but I’m too shy. I have something for him to sign in my bag – a CD or DVD – but the event ends, Cave leaves and the audience filters out.

We leave the room. Already I’m regretting my failure. We go down some stairs – the kind that comprises many short flights that double back on themselves (there must be a proper term for that). My wife says she’s going somewhere, will be back in a minute. As I wait by the aluminium doors leading out into the street Cave walks in.

He’s clearly in a rush, but I seize my moment.

“Hey, Nick,” I say, “I was at the, er, thing. It was really interesting.”

“Thanks.” He sticks a cigarette into his mouth, heads towards the stairs.

“I’ve got something for you to sign. Would you?” I fumble around in my bag, trying to find the CD/DVD/whatever it is.

“I’d love to but I’m on a fifteen minute break and I’m really pressed for time.”

He’s very polite but is obviously in a rush and slightly flustered. I can’t find the thing for him to sign. Cave climbs the stairs and is gone.

When I wake up I have Stagger Lee going through my head.

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Do You Love Me Like I Love You? – my Nick Cave DVD contribution

O children, lift up your voice

I’m delighted to have received confirmation that I’m to appear on the DVD accompanying the reissue of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus album.

I was interviewed by Jane Pollard and Iain Forsyth in August 2008, as I blogged here and here. During the interview I spoke about the wonderful O Children – a track that still gives me tingles. Also on the DVD are artists such as Martyn Casey, Dave Gahan, Mick Harvey, Beth Orton, and broadcaster Colin Murray. Having had a preview of the interviews, it’s clear that I’ve lost weight and had a haircut since filming!

The three films that complete the extensive Do You Love Me Like I Love You? series will be premiered at the East End Film Festival on Sunday 1 July, with Nocturama at 3pm, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus at 4pm and Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! at 5pm – all screenings are free and take place at the Vibe Bar at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London E1. There’s more info here.

To say I’m chuffed at being able to make a contribution to this DVD is an understatement: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have produced some of my favourite music. The reissue is provisionally scheduled for release on July 31st.

Click on “Nick Cave” in the tag cloud for more Cave-related posts.

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Sunny Sunday Supplement

A sunny Sunday morning. I woke up with a headache. Managed to get back to sleep a few times but then got up and got myself a couple of Nurofen. Got dressed and made an espresso and sat in the garden watching the blue tits coming and going to the bird box to feed the chicks. Also saw our friendly robin and what I think was a great tit. Looks like I’m in danger of turning into Bill Oddie, here. And he is a great tit.

Last night saw the first part of the latest Dr Who adventure. Gotta say, for me Matt Smith is the best Doctor ever. Even better than Tom Baker. Yes, I know. But that assistant of his – not for me, thanks. I’m not finding the stories as good these days, though. That could be due to familiarity, but I doubt it. I could watch Blink and Father’s Day over and over.

Speaking of which, the wonderful Father’s Day episode was written by Paul Cornell – a truly talented writer who also wrote The Family of Blood episodes, an episode of Primeval and a couple for Robin Hood, in addition to the Captain Britain comics (among others) and a couple of novels. Busy, busy guy. He’s also written a new pilot for the BBC called Pulse. Apparently “medical horror and sci-fi”, the first episode of Pulse will screen on BBC 3 at 9pm on Thursday June 3rd. Well worth a look, I’d say. If you’re on Facebook there’s a group for Pulse that’ll keep you up to date and give you an idea what it’s all about.

Musically I’ve not done much recently. Can’t really face it at the moment. I might do some composing at home at some point but that would mean spending even more time in front of the computer, which I don’t really want to do. I certainly don’t want to be in another band. The last couple of weeks I’ve been listening to The Maccabees’ Colour It In album a lot. Some great lyrics in there and guitar work. Check ‘em out.

I’m coming towards the end of reading Cormac McCarthy’s The Road (recently made into a movie with score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis) for the second time. (McCarthy also wrote the novel of No Country for Old Men, also a recent successful movie.) McCarthy’s a master of understated characterisation and sparsity of language.

The first McCarthy book that I read was All the Pretty Horses. Part of The Border Trilogy, this is a beautiful book unlike anything else I’d ever read at the time. The Crossing is gripping and moving – 16-year old Billy Parham’s adventure with a wolf he captures. But for me the best work of his I’ve read so far is Blood Meridian. The story of ruthless mercenaries who collect scalps for cash in mid-19th century America, this is a truly dark book that’s not for the squeamish. When I’ve finished The Road this is the next one I’ll read again. Or maybe I’ll give Child of God a go.

If you haven’t read any McCarthy, you should.

Lyric of the Day ~ Jesus of the Moon

people often talk about being scared of change
but for me I’m more afraid of things staying the same
cos the game is never won by standing in any one place for too long

Jesus of the Moon ~ Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds