Surprisingly, it's Nick Cave's lyrics that fall short. Drummer/percussionist Jim Sclavunos' brilliant congas (and other percussive contributions) on the lovely "Moonland," Mick Harvey's steady guitar work (best exemplified in "Midnight Man") and Warren Ellis' exceptional work on an array of instruments (viola, mandocaster, tenor guitar, flute and loops), notable highlights. This is to the great credit of the Bad Seeds, a tight unit of musicians, who play with economy, resourcefulness and subtlety. Fortunately, Dig, even though it has stripped nearly all elements of chaos and barrage, avoids the flatness of his 2003 release Nocturna, with a deft execution, employing various pop and garage rock influences. However, in his two recent releases, Cave seemed to have separated these two musical spheres. These two elements, in Cave's hands, balanced one another out or added an unsettling unpredictability. On the other hand, there was the chaotic, aggressive barrage of cacophony. On one hand, there was his keen sense of melody and delivery, often drawing on his soulful crooning, reminiscent of Leonard Cohen or Johnny Cash, two noted Cave influences. On the majority of his earlier releases, Cave seemed to always combine two structures evenly. Ellis' approach is more subtle and nuanced, fitting in with Cave's own maturing sensibilities.
Dirty Three member Warren Ellis has made his role more pronounced over these recent recordings, and his contributions are what former Bad Seed Blixa Bargeld used to contribute to Cave's recordings, which is noise, sound and texture - in the right places.
Following on the heels of the elegant, stylistic, white gospel, two-disc epic Abaittoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheusand the cathartic dirge of his Grinderman side project (an elder kin to his early band The Birthday Party), Digpresents a simpler arrangement, stripped down to the essentials: drums, bass, piano/organ, guitars, vocals and texture. Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! by Nick Cave and the Bad Seedsĭig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, the new release from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, is Cave's pop record.
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