Friday, July 6, 2007

GRINDERMAN – NO PUSSY BLUES (MUTE)


GRINDERMAN – NO PUSSY BLUES (MUTE)

There is a true feel of rejuvenation to Nick Cave’s music these days and rather than the new commercial heights found with Dig Lazarus Dig I would argue that it is actually the Grinderman record that has seen Nick Cave’s output at the best it has been for probably a decade.

A large part of this I feel can be put down to the influence and input of Warren Ellis. He maybe the reason why Blixa let the roost of the Bad Seeds (to date not confirmed) but this guy is no jobber, he is solid in sound and terrifyingly dirty with it. The longer his beard has grown the larger his influence in the music of Cave appears to have solidified.

Sensible points aside, these are the greatest lyrics of the last ten years, explicitly addressing rejection from the fairer sex and the pathetic attempts a man will make with view to reversing the decision. I genuinely cannot recall a better description of the male human condition, as his physical house falls into disarray and begins to come apart at the seams. With these words Nick Cave attaches a nonchalant dose of humour while at the same time being wholeheartedly earnest in his proclamations.

This song is a truly exhilarating experience containing a sense of getting one over on every lady that has rejected the listener ever. Cutting to the bone these words ring scarily true with lines such as “I changed the sheets on my bed, I combed the hairs across my head, I sucked in my gut but still she said that she just didn’t want to” defining the futility of conquest that is never going to happen. All in all it is delivered like a sermon or the greatest lecture never made.

Accompanying the statements comes a tension building series of strokes from the engine room of the Grinderman, a sound akin to a ticking time bomb waiting to explode onto the scene, there was never a click trick with more intent or presence. Every player on this record is tight and performing at the height of their ability, restrained and definite the sound to this scene is akin to a look of disgust prior to lashing out. Perfection.

Thesaurus moment: prevail.

Grinderman
Mute Records

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