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Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds Ghosteen Double Vinyl LP
Tracklist
Spinning Song Bright Horses Waiting For You Night Raid Sun Forest Galleon Ship Ghosteen Speaks Leviathan Ghosteen Fireflies Hollywood


Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds' *Ghosteen* is not just an album; it is an experience, a hauntingly beautiful exploration of grief, loss, and the transcendence of love. Released in 2019, *Ghosteen* marks the band's seventeenth studio album, and it stands as one of their most poignant and emotionally resonant works.
The album is divided into two parts, which Cave has described as "the children" and "their parents." The first part features songs that are more narrative-driven and lyrically dense, while the second part is more expansive and ethereal, with longer, meditative tracks that delve into the depths of sorrow and redemption.
From the opening track, "Spinning Song," *Ghosteen* immediately immerses the listener in a world of melancholy and beauty. Cave's voice, fragile yet powerful, floats over minimalist, atmospheric arrangements. The music is often sparse, relying on synthesizers, strings, and Warren Ellis’s ethereal loops, creating a soundscape that feels both intimate and vast.
Tracks like "Bright Horses" and "Waiting for You" showcase Cave's unparalleled ability to convey deep emotion with simple, poetic lyrics. There is a sense of searching, of reaching out into the void for something, or someone, lost. The lyrics throughout the album are deeply personal, reflecting Cave's own grief following the tragic death of his son, Arthur, in 2015.
The second half of the album, beginning with the epic "Ghosteen," moves into a more abstract realm. These longer pieces are less about narrative and more about mood and texture. The title track, with its repeated refrain of "I am beside you," feels like a mantra, offering solace in the midst of pain.
The final track, "Hollywood," is perhaps the most devastating on the album. It is a sprawling, 14-minute journey through despair and acceptance, with Cave recounting the Buddhist tale of Kisa Gotami, who searches for a way to bring her dead child back to life. The track leaves the listener with a profound sense of quiet resignation, a recognition that some losses cannot be undone, but that love persists beyond death.
*Ghosteen* is a masterpiece of modern music, a testament to Nick Cave's ability to transform personal tragedy into universal art. It is an album that requires time and patience, one that rewards the listener with each subsequent listen. It is not just an exploration of grief, but a meditation on the nature of existence, love, and the spirit that lingers even in the darkest of times.
In *Ghosteen*, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds have created a work of art that is both hauntingly beautiful and deeply human, an album that will stand the test of time as one of their greatest achievements.