Customer Reviews

Abatoir Blues/the Lyre of Orpheus

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, Nick Cave certainly knows how to suck you in. The follow-up to 2003's "Nocturama" is a solidly moody creation, a two disc set called "Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus," courtesy of the ex-Birthday Party vocalist and his new band, the Bad Seeds. One minute mellow, the next bombastic -- and it's pretty good stuff.

Certain bands age well, and thankfully Cave hasn't lost his touch. Though only God knows how he manages to churn out an album a year without burning out like a blind moth. Let alone material that is decent in quality -- "Abattoir Blues" is a warped take on gospel music, complete with a thrilling choir in "There She Goes My Beautiful World."

"It's been a strange, strange day," Cave moans in the first disc. But "The Lyre of Orpheus" takes a slightly different tack -- it's sweeter and more playful. After the heavy rock of songs like "Get Ready for Love," the gentle pop of "Lyre" seems positively idyllic. The sprawling 10-minute finale, "O Children," is a spookily beautiful composition that sounds almost prayerlike.

"Nocturama" wasn't the best that Cave and the Bad Seeds could have done. Like a lot of good rock, it was good by objective standards, but not as good as he could've done. "Abattoir Blues/The Lyre Of Orpheus" fixes that -- it's just a resolutely solid album all around.

Whirlwind bass and murky percussion mask the songs of "Abattoir Blues," giving a sort of wild stormy sound. Even the lower-key songs like funky "Cannibal's Hymn" are spooky and weird. Things change quite a bit with "Lyre of Orpheus," such as the opener of "Breathless" -- it's dominated by a gentle acoustic guitar and a flute. In the background of "Carry Me," you can hear what sounds like a piano. The music sounds very textured and complete.

And despite such brilliant instrumentation, it's hard to tell just how Cave can keep from laughing during some of the songs he sings here. Like "The Lyre of Orpheus" -- he sings about Orpheus crafting a lyre that kills Eurydice, followed by "birdies detonated in the sky/bunnies dashed their brains out on the trees." Where do they get these wickedly deranged ideas from? But the lyrics aren't all goofy -- "Cannibal's Hymn" is morbidly creepy, with its "your heart that is bruised but bleating/And bleeding like a lamb."

What's best about "Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus" is that both discs work as individuals albums. But taken together, they feel like a wild night out, and the lazy Sunday morning that comes after.

A satisfying album. The mood on every Cave album differs, however, this one follows in the steps of Nocturama where it is more upbeat, yet mellow and a bit restrained. The mellow songs are excellent, perfect tunes to relax or chill-out to on a beautiful day.

Breathless has got to be my favorite, a very melodic, happy, acoustic tune...if only more of those were present (even though I believe this song has been lying around in some format or another for years, a [gloomy] version of it was performed with Kylie a few years back).

Although the heavier tunes are solid (Get Ready For Love, There She Goes..), it sometimes seems as if the band is just banging away mindlessly on their instruments. The [heavier] melodies aren't as sweet as they used to be. Nevertheless, you cannot go wrong with purchasing this album. Mr. Cave has still got it (praise the Lord!).

Having listened to Nick Cave through various incarnations - from the smacked out noise monger of the late 70's and ealry '80's to the pretty f**ked up zeolot of the 90's and then the old romantic guilt ridden....well...
This double release is some of the most engaging of the entire Cave catalogue. For the first time in ages a Nick Cave release I can use not only for my own entertainment and education but one I can use to win over new fans (the last time this was possible was with the 'free live CD' accompanying the greatest hits package).
This is an album every home should have.