If Nick Cave were a movie director, he’d always look to work on historical tragedies and shoot the bloodiest scenes first. Nick Cave has written potential soundtracks for these kinds of movies for so long now that he has become something of a god of these imaginary worlds.
The only trouble is that sometimes, these gruesome stories have a habit of spilling out into reality. This is where “Wild God” finds Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. He has melded the two worlds, the real and the imaginary, and has sung their songs of despair for too long. Even the Creator needs a break and a reason to smile.
“Wild God” feels like a breakup record. It’s a potential adieu to a time of great suffering.
A Time for Joy?
That is not to say that musically, “Wild God” is a lot different from the slow, poetic sound of Cave’s records since 2016’s “Skeleton Tree.” The band, led once again by Warren Ellis, creates murmurs and loud thumps of noise over which Cave recites and occasionally sings his poetry.
What is the poetry about? Cave writes like a king whose castle has been under siege for many years. He has had to endure hardships, and those around him have sorrowed horribly. But the invaders are now going back home. On “Wild God,” Cave surveys what is left of his kingdom and proclaims that all shall make an effort to allow joy into their lives.
This is a significant development if you have been following the recording careers of Nick Cave and his backing group, The Bad Seeds, and the lives of its members. Be warned, however. If you are, however, not a dedicated fan, happy to soak up every new nuance of Cave’s music, “Wild God” may well feel like more of the same.
Take for example, “Joy,” the most significant composition on “Wild God.” As in recent releases, the music is merely a shimmer. Cave is, once more, the maddened prophet telling his visions. It’s beautiful, although there isn’t much of a melody for those looking for one. The nostalgia-plagued “Cinnamon Horses” and “Long Dark Night” function in much the same way. These songs could’ve easily been part of 2019’s “Ghosteen.”
Using the Talents of The Bad Seeds
But fans of Nick Cave’s older material may find reasons to be hopeful. Some songs contain a bit of the confrontational nature of old Bad Seeds records, and even some that attempt to craft a melody.
The title song, “Wild God,” has a traditional beat behind it as Cave tells of cruel, supernatural beings. “Song of the Lake” allows the bass line and backing vocals to glisten in the Summer Sun. And, on “O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is),” Cave even does some singing, occasionally locking into a groove with the backing vocalists.
Where does this leave us? Nick Cave’s reputation has changed over the years. He is not a crazy punk-rocker or a darkly Satanic figure anymore as much as the world is concerned with. Cave is viewed as one of the significant artists of our time. Nearly every artistic effort of his is judged through that lens.
Furthermore, there are many who have responded with warmth and understanding to the hardships that Cave and his family have endured in recent years.
“Wild God” is another strong release in a very impressive body of work. It promises to change things, but it’s not quite able yet to do it. This will affect the goodwill that The Bad Seeds have accumulated, but it won’t bring in new fans either. But that may be beside the point. The siege is over, and the people in the castle are doing their very best to get on with life.
