Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - 'Long Dark Night'
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds show no signs of slowing down - with the release of their new single ‘Long Dark Night’, it makes for an intriguing stepping stone into the world of their 18th album, ‘Wild God’.
Formed in 1983, the band began to gain attention for Cave’s admirable ability to create stories with music, both through the use of lyrics and instruments. With the combination of his uniquely soul-bearing voice, skilful song-writing, and impactful live performances, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have climbed the ranks of the music industry and landed themselves in some of the most popular film and TV soundtracks such as Harry Potter and Peaky Blinders.
‘Long Dark Night’ is the third single release from the upcoming album, and so far, appears to be the most toned-down track. Keeping a slow piano-driven tempo with harmonious backing strings, the single resembles a calm yet heavy setting for the album. As suggested by the title and sombre lyrics, Cave hints towards the poem ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ by St. John of the Cross, in which the journey of the soul to the union with God is depicted.
Speaking on the subject, Nick Cave says: “Long Dark Night is inspired by one of the greatest and most powerful poems of conversion ever written. Ultimately, though, it's a beautiful country tune. It feels like a sweet companion to the song, Wild God.” Being able to build a song around a poem written in the 16th century in modern music really showcases the band’s expansive interests, experimentations, and processes that go into their work.
Lyrics such as ‘Maybe a long dark night is coming down/ Maybe a long dark night, my precious one/ Maybe a long dark night is rolling around my eyes’ keeps the dark yet accepting atmosphere throughout the track. ‘Long Dark Night’ doesn’t fail to uphold the band’s reputation of being able to create rich imagery and heart-felt storylines. If this, alongside the other single releases, are any inkling as to what the new album will be like, we’re in for a raw and brooding late-summer listen.
Amid the brewing excitement for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ new album ‘Wild God’ (due for release August 30th), the band have announced a UK & Europe tour. Including two huge dates at the O2 Arena in London and one of them already being sold out months in advance, it’s safe to say this tour won’t be one to miss!
Words by Cameron Cookson
