Boatman's Call, The - Nick Cave/Bad Seeds (The)

Looking back I've missed a number of seminal albums, as they passed me by. I remember being at Glastonbury in 1998 but don't remember seeing the wonderful Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, as I only knew him from his duet with Kylie Minouge “Where the Wild Roses Grow”. Fast forward eleven years and his beautifully sublime album “The Boatman Calls” is one of my most played albums. Released in 1997 The Boatmen Calls” is Cave's 10th studio ...
...before such as the “Murder Ballads” Gone are the tales of violence, instead we have Cave in a very mellow, reflective mood pondering on love, redemption, spirituality and his previous, often failed relationships. From laments and odes to P J Harvey (Black Hair, West Country Girl and Green Eyes) to the unravellings of his marriage (People Ain't no Good” and “Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere” the subject matter of the songs are often very personal and ... more

Looking back I've missed a number of seminal albums, as they passed me by. I remember being at Glastonbury in 1998 but don't remember seeing the wonderful Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, as I only knew him from his duet with Kylie Minouge “Where the Wild Roses Grow”. Fast forward eleven years and his beautifully sublime album “The Boatman Calls” is one of my most played albums. Released in 1997 The Boatmen Calls” is Cave's 10th studio album and very different from the ones that have come before such as the “Murder Ballads” Gone are the tales of violence, instead we have Cave in a very mellow, reflective mood pondering on love, redemption, spirituality and his previous, often failed relationships. From laments and odes to P J Harvey (Black Hair, West Country Girl and Green Eyes) to the unravellings of his marriage (People Ain't no Good” and “Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere” the subject matter of the songs are often very personal and often I feel honoured to intrude on the glimpses of Cave's thoughts and encounters. It's an album of grown up love songs often with quite a sensual, even slightly erotic subtext which I could never fully appreciate when I was 20 as I've experienced the highs, lows and complexities of love and other relationships.

Musically I find it difficult to fault “Boatman Calls”. Its an album full of deceptively simple songs with sparse instrumentation, pretty melodies and clean production. I love this style of instrumentation, as it creates a fantastic backdrop for Cave's vocals which are deep, nature and very stately.

I have came late to downloading and “Boatman Calls” is one of the first albums I have downloaded. This is ironic as its an album where I would appreciate owning the inlay booklet to read the lyrics. Other have said it but I'm going to say it again but Cave is a genius and a poet when it comes to songwriting. His lyrics are full of insight into the fragility of humans relationships and the quest for something more, spirituality or maybe the prefect relationship sung about in (Are you) The one I've been Waiting for” The imagery at times is stunning such as the “Valentine of blood” and wedding dress net curtains in “People Ain't No Good“ and his repeated use of black hair in the track of the same name. These really are lyrics that English and media teachers can analyse to their hearts content.

The opening track Into My Arms has the accolade of being the most played song on my computer in the last couple of months. You know it is going to be special right from the the first line “I don't believe in an interventionist god” It it is one of the most beautifully sublime songs I have ever heard. I'm not sure if some people would find it too schmaltzy (by his standards) but I love it. It's quite a simple, almost fragile slow song with just an understated piano accompanying Nick's stately, deep vocals singing lyrics of pure love tinged with themes of devotion, spirituality and Christianity. I could listen to it over and over and never get sick of it. This surely is a ten out of ten song and would probably make it in my top ten songs of all time.

“Into My Arms“ is followed by the equally gorgeous “Lime Tree Arbour”. It's another simple, touching love song with brushed drums shuffling away in the background and an understated organ. Its got a nice relaxed late night feeling. I love it because amongst Cave's eloquent pragmatic over life “There will always be suffering It flows through life like water” there is also hope in the lyric, as Cave tenderly declares “There is hand that protects me And I do love her so “

After the hopeful tone of the first two tracks we are treated to the first of two eulogies to failed relationships. “People Ain't No Good” is another mellow slow song starting with a simple piano and slight drum beat. Its a song that charts the demise of a marriage and Caver's total disillusionment with relationships. I find the imagery especially striking on People Aint No good alongside Cave's voice which is particularly mature and throaty.

Brompton Oratory written about a visit Cave made to the catholic church in South Kensington is in my opinion one of the weaker tracks on the album that lacks the impact of those that have gone before. I find the melody driven by a church organ not so simple, stark or pure as “Into My Arms” and the tempo seems a bit lackluster. I also find the imagery linking his love making to communion and transfiguration slightly too forced compared to some of the other religious imagery on the album.

“There is a Kingdom” always reminds me of “Perfect Day” in tune and melody. It's another laid back mellow song. Its another of the weaker tracks which is perfectly pleasant but has made less of an impression on me than some of the other tracks. The lyrics seem less profound and there is less wonderful imagery. Its one that floats by until the standard is raised

We don't have to wait long as (Are you) the one I've been Waiting For” is another song I adore. Its also one of the first song I heard. It's just a really beautiful song about the nature of love. Everyone's looking for this idealistic perfect love that just does not exist even though we want it. Again the imagery is sublime. I love the idea of this perfect love appearing “wrapped in a coat with tears in your eyes” . I like the guitar which is gentle and moody whilst Cave's voice has an intimate but weary edge to it. Its another song that I can listen to repeatedly without tiring of it.

One of the high points of the album for me is also one of the low points. “Where do we go now but Nowhere” is the second eulogy to a collapsed relationship and its a remarkable one. I could write a whole review on it and still have more things to write due to the lyrics and imagery. Its one of the most depressing and despairing songs I've ever heard but its compulsive listening. Set in some sort of hospital or institution you can hear the weariness in Cave's voice as he struggles to cope with the death of the relationship and the total strangers the couple have become whilst remembering the better days. Its a song I can relate to so much especially the lyrics ”f I could relive one day of my life,If I could relive just a single one”when looking back to happier events.

The tone of the music matches the tone of th lyrics. There's the piano and light drums backed with a mournful mournful, violin and a gloomy bass line great effect. Its just beautiful. The lyrics are misery upon misery but the imagery is vivid and stunning from “The kitten that padded and purred on my lap now swipes at my face with the paw of a bear “ to “Ravaged avenger with a clip in your hair”/ I also love the tender refrain “wake up my lover wake up” which shows there is just that flicker of hope for this doomed relationship.

On the album the “Murder Ballads” Cave duetted and became involved with P J Harvey. The next two tracks on the album “West Country girl and “Black Hair” are Cave's odes to Harvey. I like the drama of West country Girl as it has a different feel to most of the songs on the album. It ts more up tempo with a rollicking rustic folky feel to it due to the twang of gypsy like guitars and violins. Ithe lyrics are performed in a passionate half chant. I find th lyric “her unborn baby crying mummy aginst the rubble of her body” quite disturbing. “Black Hair” is a strange kettle of fish. Cave sings repeatedly about Harvey's distinctive raven locks backed by an accordion accompaniment. I do find th emotion in Cave's voice in the final verse especially touching.

Idiot's Prayer” is a real grower on me. Its not particularly memorable musically with piano, drums n violin but lyrically it is fantastic. Here we have Cave at his most cynical and twisted as he scorns a former lover's belief in love, heaven end religion. “They're gunna pass me to that house above
Is Heaven just for victims, dear? Where only those in pain go”. His mocking use of the word hallelujah is especially effective.

The album ends with Green Eyes and its another cautious song. A layered effect is used with Cave both singing and speaking the lyrics backed with a Spanish guitar and an harmonica. I'm never sure what to make of it but rounds the album off to a memorable end.

“Boatman Calls may not be for anyone omened by a little swearing as the F word and the Cword are used but for those who love their love songs less schmaltzy and more true to life this is n essential purchase. I would recommend Boatman Calls to anyone who has been heartbroken. It can be beautiful and depressing, cynical and sublime. The lyrics are perhaps some of the best I've hear as Cave is a song writing genius.

Purchased at Amazon for £4.98
 

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