Nick Cave’s Ghosteen Is a Devastating Meditation on Loss and Survival – Paste Magazine
Posted: October 13, 2019 at 3:46 pm
Grief transforms you. It rearranges molecules, builds them anew. Its power is such that it occupies the core of our being and extends through our fingers to the limits of the universe, as Nick Cave wrote in a 2018 edition of his email newsletter. Within that whirling gyre all manner of madnesses exist: ghosts and spirits and dream visitations, and everything else that we, in our anguish, will into existence.
It has undoubtedly transformed Cave. In 2014, the musicians legacy seemed fairly settled: A godfather-of-goth lifetime badge, his mid-career pivot into romantic balladry, the late-career rebirth as mustachioed preacher of Grinderman sleaze, his legendary prickliness around critics and fans. Caves best songsoften seemed to occupy distinct characters or guisesthe death-row inmate (The Mercy Seat), the sinister raconteur (Red Right Hand), the blues-slinging incel buffoon (No Pussy Blues)yet since the devastating loss of his 15-year-old son, Arthur, in 2015, Cave himself has been stripped bare. He has, to quote a phrase from Jubilee Street, been transformed. In his musicand his increasing desire to communicate directly with fans, both through the newsletter and his unmoderated Q&A eventsthe artist conveys the enormity of his grief with surrealist wisdom and brutal candor. Ghosteen, Caves devastating new double album, is the culmination of that transformation.
Across two discs and several marathon-length pieces, Ghosteen is a wrenching dispatch from that grief-borne state where all manner of madnesses exist, set to analog synthesizers and heavenly choirs of voices. At times, Cave seems driven mad with longing: During the ambient hymn of The Spinning Song, he repeats the words Peace will come / Peace will come while slipping into a near-unrecognizable falsetto. Elsewhere, he regales us with visions of ships, galloping creatures (Bright Horses) and a spiral of children ascending upward towards the sun (the central imagery of the unbearably lovely Sun Forest)all images that evoke a sense of freedom and release. (In introducing the album, Cave described it as a migrating spirit).
Often, listening to Ghosteen feels like attending a surreal, freewheeling wake. The singer alludes to the specifics of his loss more plainly (and with more room for hope) than on 2016s Skeleton Tree, which was released in the confounding aftermath of the trauma but had been largely written beforehand. On the astonishing Night Raid, he eulogizes his departed child with wry and gravelly humor (You were a runaway flake of snow / You were skinny and white as a wafer, yeah I know) over Gamelan synths that ring out like funeral bells.
Such material might turn mawkish in the hands of a lesser writer, or a more traditional arrangement. Fortunately, not a note of Ghosteen can be described as traditional. Caves 1997 masterpiece, The Boatmans Call, set a template for the singers spare, confessional mode. On both Ghosteen and Skeleton Tree, Cave rips up that piano-ballad template in favor of drifting, ambient blankets of sound created in close collaboration with Bad Seed colleague Warren Ellis. Ghosteen draws on Cave and Elliss extensive film-scoring work more clearly than any other album in the Bad Seeds canon. (Though credited to Cave & The Bad Seeds, it feels like a full-band effort in name only.)
Many passages sound like incidental music for a science-fiction film, which is appropriate, given that so much of the album feels like it inhabits what Joan Didion has described as the grief-inspired mindset of magical thinking. Little details, such as the rising and falling vocal swells of Ghosteen Speaks and the brief, hymn-like coda of Sun Forest, have an immense effect within this heightened emotional state.
Ghosteen is packaged as a double LP, though at 68 minutes, its not much longer than No More Shall We Part. The second disc contains just three tracks, two of them surging well past the 10-minute mark. Ghosteen is a delirious, dream-state epic encompassing vast, cinematic synths and a fable about bears before arriving at its sad, learned wisdom: Theres nothing wrong with loving things / That cannot even stand. The 14-minute finale, Hollywood, is longer and a bit dodgier, as Cave conjoins a brooding series of verses about his familys post-trauma escape to Los Angeles with a retelling of a Buddhist legend involving a woman who went mad with sorrow following the loss of her child. These two parts may have been better served as two distinct songs.
In the legendand songthe woman finds some measure of comfort in the revelation that every house in her village has also experienced loss. Caves decision to deliver this story in a falsetto-laced voice far above his register is somewhat bewildering, but his ultimate conclusionthat everybodys losing somebodyis deeply sound. It echoes an interview he gave to MOJO in 2017, in which he exclaimed that there are a lot of grievers out there. Caves radical openness has brought him into conversation and solidarity with this global community of people who have lost and who continue to live. For such people, Ghosteen is a sweeping and remarkable gift.
Originally posted here:
Nick Cave's Ghosteen Is a Devastating Meditation on Loss and Survival - Paste Magazine
- SKY RSO Presents 'Science Behind Meditation' | University of Arkansas - University of Arkansas Newswire - April 6th, 2021
- Victor Goenka Founder of Ice Meditation Is Helping Entrepreneurs Perform With Meditation and Breathwork - Yahoo Finance - April 6th, 2021
- How to Meditate & What You Need To Know | #DeepDives | Health - shorelinemedia.net - April 6th, 2021
- ArtSci Roundup: Borders and Blackness: Communicating Belonging and Grief, Drop-in Session: Meditation Inspired By Nature, and More - UW News - April 6th, 2021
- A meditation experiment with an NFL player who retired at 24 over concussion fears led to cutting-edge mental training for college athletes - Yahoo... - April 6th, 2021
- Those That, At a Distance, Resemble Another review meditation on the art and act of coping - The Guardian - April 6th, 2021
- Meditation Market Competitive Research and Precise Outlook 2021 to 2027 | Inner Explorer, Committee for Children, Stop, Breathe & Think PBC The... - April 6th, 2021
- Mindfulness Meditation Application Market to Witness Massive Growth by Headspace, YogaGlo, Smiling Mind - Press Release - Digital Journal - April 6th, 2021
- Musical meditations with the NC Symphony - EducationNC - EdNC - April 6th, 2021
- Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market Dynamics, Comprehensive Analysis, Business Growth, Prospects And Opportunities : Calm Headspace Breethe Insight... - April 6th, 2021
- Yoga And Meditation Accessories Market Size, Key Company Profiles, Types, Applications and Forecast To 2027 The Bisouv Network - The Bisouv Network - April 6th, 2021
- Heartfulness Meditation: The Benefits and How to Participate - The Wright State Guardian - April 6th, 2021
- Bilingual Spanish/English Guided Mindfulness Meditation with InsightLA's Rosamara Segura | KCRW's 24 Hours of Serenity - KCRW - April 6th, 2021
- A National Park Thats Ideal for Meditative Walks - The Wall Street Journal - April 6th, 2021
- Grounding through the Sense Doors Meditation with InsightLA's Thomas Davis | KCRW's 24 Hours of Serenity - KCRW - April 6th, 2021
- Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market 2021 Is Booming Across the Globe by Share, Size, Growth, Segments and Forecast to 2027 | Top Players Analysis- Deep... - April 6th, 2021
- A bitter morning: A Holy Saturday meditation | Opinion - Southernminn.com - April 6th, 2021
- Jeremy Piven will convince you to meditate - British GQ - April 6th, 2021
- Cemeteries offer quiet space for meditation on the Way of the Cross - The Record - April 6th, 2021
- Meditation Singing Bowl Comprehensive Analysis on Global Market Report by Company, by Dynamics, by Region, by Type, by Application and by COVID-19... - April 6th, 2021
- 7 types of meditation: What type is best for you? - February 13th, 2021
- How to Meditate with Anxiety - Mindful - February 13th, 2021
- A Beginner's Guide to Meditation | Learn the Basics of How ... - February 13th, 2021
- 12 must-know meditation tips for beginners - February 13th, 2021
- 11 Best Meditation Apps 2021 - Free Meditation Apps for ... - February 13th, 2021
- New Jersey | Vipassana Meditation Center Dhamma Dhar - February 13th, 2021
- Loving-Kindness Meditation | Practice | Greater Good in Action - February 13th, 2021
- Meditation | UMD Health Center - February 13th, 2021
- Movement, Meditation & White Space: Health Coach Says Give These A Try When Facing Pandemic-Related Stress - CBS Denver - February 13th, 2021
- Qigong Meditation: For Beginners, Techniques, Benefits, and More - Healthline - February 13th, 2021
- MasterClass Announces Class on Mindfulness and Meditation - Yahoo Finance - February 13th, 2021
- Doctor's Order: There is power in meditation - Daily Herald - February 13th, 2021
- Smart Health: I Tried MindTravel's Silent Walking Meditation and It Reignited My Zeal for Mindfulness - Everyday Health - February 13th, 2021
- Columbia wellness studio hosts night of art and meditation - ColaDaily.com - February 13th, 2021
- Shark self care: Meditation | The Current - The Current - The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University. - February 13th, 2021
- This Netflix meditation series calmed my anxiety and kicked off my family's meditation journey - Motherly Inc. - February 13th, 2021
- Amazing Benefits of Morning Meditation - Gildshire Magazines - February 13th, 2021
- Nomadland: Read The Screenplay For Chlo Zhaos Meditation On The American West - Deadline - February 13th, 2021
- The art of sitting still: Tri-state residents embrace meditation practices amid pandemic - telegraphherald.com - February 13th, 2021
- Meditations for Hitting the Pandemic Wall | Seriously? - North Coast Journal - February 13th, 2021
- Meditation Market 2021 | Covid-19 Impact Analysis and Industry Forecast Report Till 2027 | Simply Better Apps, Smiling Mind, Inner Explorer KSU | The... - February 13th, 2021
- Find peace in troubled times with Northwich meditation centre - Northwich Guardian - February 13th, 2021
- LaKeith Stanfield on 'Judas and the Black Messiah': I should've done some meditation, and some therapy, to prepare for something like this' - Yahoo... - February 13th, 2021
- 10 different types of meditationand which one is right for you - Gwinnettdailypost.com - February 3rd, 2021
- The Best Meditation Apps to Download Right Now - HarpersBAZAAR.com - February 3rd, 2021
- Meditation Market In-depth Research Covering Share Analysis, Industry Overview and Forecast | Key Players Simply Better, Apps Smiling, Mind Inner... - February 3rd, 2021
- How to Start a Meditation Practice if You Hate Meditating - WebMD - WebMD - February 3rd, 2021
- Five meditation apps that can help your child to relax - The Indian Express - February 3rd, 2021
- 5 Best Meditation and Yoga Gear You Can Buy From Uneedum - Kev's Best - February 3rd, 2021
- Meditation, the highest sadana - The Hindu - February 3rd, 2021
- Taking the Edge Off Best Meditation Apps for 2021 - Parentology - February 3rd, 2021
- Yoga nidra is an easy, fail-proof alternative to meditation - Insider - INSIDER - February 3rd, 2021
- Ask an Expert Relax and de-stress with meditation - Cache Valley Daily - February 3rd, 2021
- Hunter McGrady on How She's Taking Care of Her Mental Health During the Pandemic - POPSUGAR - February 3rd, 2021
- Review: 'The Dig' Is a Gentle, Hazy Meditation on the Fragility of Life and the Ways It Lingers On - ourcommunitynow.com - February 3rd, 2021
- Starbucks Is Offering Rewards Members Free Meditations To Pair With Their Coffee Break - Delish - February 3rd, 2021
- I Couldn't Stay Still and Focused, So I Started Meditating on the Move Here's How - POPSUGAR - February 3rd, 2021
- Wellbeing webinar: improved brain function via meditation - Epigram - February 3rd, 2021
- Kevin Hart And His Comedian Friends Want You To Meditate With Them - TheThings - February 3rd, 2021
- Student org promotes peace and mindfulness through meditation - The News Record - February 3rd, 2021
- Starbucks Offers Rewards Members Free Meditations To Go With Their Coffee | 106.7 Lite fm - iHeartRadio - February 3rd, 2021
- Cindy Crawford on Turning 55, Upping Her Meditation Game and the Under-Eye Product She Stores in the Fridge - NewBeauty Magazine - February 3rd, 2021
- Meditation Chime Sales Market Projections, Growth Rate, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast by 2026 | Woodstock Chimes, TM Thamelmart For Beautiful... - February 3rd, 2021
- Kevin Hart Invades Headspace And Your Meditation Will Never Be The Same - Forbes - January 25th, 2021
- From Harry Styles to Kevin Hart: New Content Studios Are Selling Meditation and Sleep With Stars' Help - Hollywood Reporter - January 25th, 2021
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has his own way of meditatinghere's what he does - CNBC - January 25th, 2021
- A Chance Meeting In Bali Sparked This Celebrity-Favorite Meditation Brand - Forbes - January 25th, 2021
- Just breathe: How meditation is helping the world keep calm and carry on through lockdown - The Sunday Post - January 25th, 2021
- Healthier Together: meditation for stress relief - fox13now.com - fox13now.com - January 25th, 2021
- Samantha Akkineni enjoys bliss post her meditation session; Tells fans to make it a part of their life - PINKVILLA - January 25th, 2021
- Filling Our Hearts with Love Through Meditation - TAPinto.net - January 25th, 2021
- The science behind meditation - COVER - COVER - COVER - January 25th, 2021
- Sven Tennis Day 9 Hard Lockdown at the Australian Open Meditation, Spin Class and the Power Shot Maker - 10sBalls - January 25th, 2021
- New Deep Learning Discovery Paves Way for AI Interpretation of Brainwave Data - PR Newswire India - January 25th, 2021
- Orgasmic meditation - What is orgasmic meditation? - cosmopolitan.com - January 25th, 2021
- Meditation Market With COVID 19 Impact Analysis| Leading Players In-depth Analysis Research Report Foresight to 2027 KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper -... - January 25th, 2021
- A beginner's guide to meditation - RTE.ie - January 25th, 2021
- Whats The Buzz NY - Mark Stephens Author , Hypnosis and Meditation Master - BlogTalkRadio - January 25th, 2021
- How Headspace is helping users cope using meditation amid COVID-19 - Yahoo Finance - January 25th, 2021
- Global Meditation Singing Bowl Professional Survey 2020 by Manufacturers, Regions, Types and Applications, Forecast to 2026 - KSU | The Sentinel... - January 25th, 2021