“NEW ERA: Nick Cave’s Bold Decision to Reassemble the Bad Seeds for Wild God Marks a Monumental Return to Full-Band Innovation, Melding”…
Nick Cave’s decision to reactivate the Bad Seeds for their latest album Wild God comes after several years of more restrained solo projects, including Ghosteen (2019) and Carnage (2021), which saw Cave working primarily with long-time collaborator Warren Ellis. The album marks a return to a full-band setup, reconnecting with musicians who have shaped the band’s sound over the years. This decision reflects a desire to harness the collective energy of the Bad Seeds, bringing a new dynamic to his songwriting that blends a more expansive, jubilant sound with the darker tones that have long defined his music.
Wild God is described as one of the band’s most vibrant records in recent memory, with Cave himself noting that it is emotionally infectious and bursting with energy. The album includes elements of both classic Bad Seeds instrumentation and experimental sounds, including synthesizers, loops, and unconventional instruments like vibraphones. This fusion of styles creates a rich, textured sonic landscape that complements the thematic exploration of faith, mortality, and redemption present in Cave’s lyrics.
The decision to return to a full-band configuration reflects a shift in Cave’s emotional and creative landscape. During the pandemic and the personal challenges that followed—such as the death of his son—Cave spent much of his time introspectively, crafting sparse, emotionally charged music. Wild God is an album that pushes past the confines of those previous works, infusing moments of radical optimism and joy. Critics have lauded the album for its ability to balance emotional depth with exuberance, with standout tracks like “Frogs” and “O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)” capturing this shift in mood.
For Cave, the return to the Bad Seeds was not just about reuniting with the band, but about capturing a new sense of vitality. The album was recorded at Miraval Studios in France and Soundtree Studios in London, where Cave and his bandmates were joined by new collaborators and guest musicians, including a choir that adds to the dramatic moments in the music. This expansive creative approach speaks to the sense of liberation and renewal that Cave and the Bad Seeds wanted to express through Wild God. The album’s themes are vast, but its execution is intimate, reflecting the band’s continued evolution and the emotional resilience that Cave has embraced as he moves forward from past grief and loss.
Ultimately, Wild God signifies both a return to form and an embrace of new possibilities. It’s a vivid, multifaceted record that captures the full range of Nick Cave’s artistry, from the haunting to the ecstatic.
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