Sixteenth studio album from Australia’s Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Skeleton Tree was recorded over a two year period as a follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2013 album Push the Sky Away. Cave’s 15 year old son Arthur died from an accidental cliff fall during the recording of the album. Although Cave had written the majority of the album by the time of his son’s passing, he amended many of the lyrics during the ensuing recording sessions. The event permeates the recordings as Cave comes to terms with the tragic loss. It’s as if he’s become one of the characters in his narratives, forced to deal with death and the pain that comes with it. It’s a heavy album that seems to show that Cave has found a way through the darkness that has encapsulated his life. Eight tracks in all. Released by Bad Seed Ltd. on black vinyl housed in a full color sleeve with printed inner sleeve and digital download of the album.

• printed inner sleeve
• digital down load included
• music label: Bad Seed Ltd. 2016

reviewed by Hank Ohs 10/2016