Lockdown inspires Nick Cave and Warren Ellis to create Carnage
In a surprise global album release, Nick Cave has issued a new work with his longtime collaborator Warren Ellis.
In a surprise global album release on Friday, Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave has issued a new work named Carnage, which he describes as “a brutal but very beautiful record embedded in a communal catastrophe”.
Created alongside his longtime collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Warren Ellis, its eight tracks were recorded across several weeks during the lockdown last year.
The collection contains several surprises, most notably the opener Hand of God, whose thumping electronic pulse and sweeping string arrangements create a sense of genuine menace. Fourth track White Elephant, meanwhile, is built on a booming bass loop and violent imagery before elevating into a beautifully melodic, gospel-like coda.
The pair have previously worked together to compose soundtracks for films such as The Proposition, The Road, and Wind River, while developing a reputation for intensely atmospheric instrumental scores rooted in electronic loops and piano.
Cave and Ellis also stepped out together to perform several concerts of their screen work with the Melbourne and Sydney Symphony Orchestras in 2019, which received rave reviews.
Carnage marks the first time they have released an album of songs as a duo. Having postponed an extensive European tour with his band The Bad Seeds due to the pandemic, Cave spent the early part of lockdown last year at his home in Brighton, England, “reading, compulsively writing and just sitting on my balcony thinking about things”.
In July, he released a compelling solo concert film, Idiot Prayer, recorded at London’s Alexandra Palace. When he and Ellis — who lives in Paris — were able to meet again to jam, “the record just fell out of the sky,” said Cave. “It was a gift.”
With Carnage, the pair have once again shown their willingness to experiment and explore new terrain. At a solo concert in early 2019, Cave said: “Me and Warren have a particularly special thing that’s going on. We’re very, very careful about the collaborative process, to remain very good friends.”
Unusual among globally famous rock stars, Cave has a direct line to his many fans’ inboxes through The Red Hand Files, his email newsletter where he responds regularly and thoughtfully to the thousands of queries pitched his way. It was there that he announced Carnage last month, although its release date was unknown at the time.
He used a similar tactic two years ago by replying to a newsletter query to announce the imminent arrival of the 17th Bad Seeds title, a double album named Ghosteen, prior to its release.
More Coverage
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout