The Boatman's Call
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The Boatman's Call is the tenth studio album released by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. It was released in 1997 and probably remains the most critically acclaimed release of Cave's long career. It is often favorably compared to Bob Dylan's classic marriage breakup album Blood on the Tracks.
It has a sombre tone and minimalist style throughout. Stylistically and lyrically it marks a major departure for Cave: away from full-band arrangements and character-based narratives. This album is centred around the intimate sound of Cave's voice and piano, and features reflections on Cave's own relationships, and his spiritual yearnings. Some songs are directed at either Cave's "ex-wife", the Brazilian Viviane Carneiro (track 7, for example) or his recent "ex-lover" PJ Harvey (the "West Country Girl" with "Black Hair" and "Green Eyes").
Contents |
Track listing
- Into My Arms (4:15)
- Lime Tree Arbour (2:56)
- People Ain't No Good (5:42)
- Brompton Oratory (4:06)
- There Is a Kingdom (4:52)
- (Are You) the One That I've Been Waiting For? (4:05)
- Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere? (5:46)
- West Country Girl (2:45)
- Black Hair (4:14)
- Idiot Prayer (4:21)
- Far From Me (5:33)
- Green Eyes (3:32)
The songs
- "Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere" is based partly on the Bob Dylan song "Sara" (later issued on Original Seeds).
Credits
Personnel
- Nick Cave – vocals, piano, Hammond organ, keyboards, vibraphone
- Mick Harvey – acoustic & electric guitars, Hammond organ, vibraphone
- Blixa Bargeld – guitar
- Warren Ellis – violin, accordion, piano
- Jim Sclavunos – melodica, drums, percussion
- Conway Savage – piano, keyboards
- Martyn P. Casey – bass
- Thomas Wydler – drums, maracassv:The Boatman's Call