[rating=8.00]
So since they just recently discovered the God Particle, does that render “Higgs-Boson Blues”, the excellently epic lament from Nick Cave’s latest work with longtime group The Bad Seeds, obsolete? Not on a sonic level, my friend. After a good decade embedded in electric brimstone both with the Seeds on such masterpieces as Abbatoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus and Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! as well as the pair of aces conjured with his short-lived blues-punk outfit Grinderman, the Australian modern rock icon returns to the tender subtlety of 2003’s Nocturama or, better yet, 1997’s brilliant The Boatman’s Call as songs like opening track “We No Who U R”, “Water’s Edge” and “We Real Cool” testify.
Longtime Seed Warren Ellis continues to serve well as Cave’s seargant-at-arms, expanding his instrumental repertoire to include electronic loops, electric piano, flute and synthesizer across this nonet of songs, while “Finishing Jubilee Street” and the closing title cut sees the return of former band member and celebrated solo artist Barry Adamson back into the fold on bass and backing vocals. Push the Sky Away is a striking, challenging and ultimately gorgeous album that should greatly appeal to fans appreciative of Cave’s more reflective mood.
