Audio By Carbonatix
Ever notice how hilarious Nick Cave is? Seriously, the guy’s a scream. Take, for instance, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, the goth maestro’s 666th release since leaving the mythic gloom-punk group the Birthday Party over two decades ago. This double disc is infested with every ghoulish punchline and macabre cliche in the big black book: nooses, serpents, gargoyles, cannibals, catacombs, cathedrals and the clank of heavy chains. But while much of the singer’s music is mired in cartoony spookiness, this new work weaves his litany of lust and sin into a broader tapestry of literature, anthropology and ironic gospel — not to mention a blood-curdling dose of thunderous rock and roll that offsets his more overblown, piano-ballad tendencies. Cave’s knack for farcical self-caricature may have gained him much acclaim over the years, but Abattoir‘s thematic and textural richness makes a lot of his past output seem like a sick joke.
Will you step up to support Westword this year?
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
