Already about to start the second week of January!!
In an effort to increase my exposure to new things, I perused the various events offered by the numerous cultural institutions in Montreal, where I live. The Phi Centre has often very interesting presentations, and this one caught my eye.
The name of Nick Cave was familiar, though no particular work came to mind. I was aware enough that he’s an artist that has had a lot of influence, so regardless of whether the actual music pleased me, I knew it was a worthwhile exercise.
Habitat Sonore : Listening Room is an immersive experience with 360 degree sound surround. From the Phi Centre website :
“Habitat Sonore is an intimate listening space designed to accommodate up to 10 people. This small capacity enhances total immersion into the sound world of artists from here and elsewhere. The experience unfolds in near darkness, which helps to emphasize the sound. We invite you to settle in comfortably, let your mind wander, close your eyes if you wish, and be carried away by a unique and captivating auditory journey.”
My session was reserved for Friday January 4th, at 5:30PM. It wasn’t quite full but we were some 8 people sharing the experience.
YouTube playlists throughout the day on Friday helped me get familiar with the general sound, and one particular piece caught my ear – Into My Arms, from the album The Boatman’s Call (1997). It was also featured in a montage in About Time (2013), one of my favourite movies. I also took the time to go through the Wikipedia page to get a sense of Nick’s, and the band’s journey.
The listening session started with about 15 minutes of interviews, in which I was amused to hear that Mr Cave doesn’t enjoy making records. As an artist myself, though visual, it felt very relatable – not all parts of art-making is enjoyable, but often, it feels inherently necessary, and there is little to do but proceed.
The album’s track list goes as follows :
- Song of the Lake
- Wild God
- Frogs
- Joy
- Final Rescue attempt
- Conversion
- Cinnamon Horses
- Long Dark Night
- O Wow O Wow
- As the Water Covers The Sea
Often, it was the mood of the melody that got my attention, like in Song Of The Lake, more than the lyrics. Conversely, the third verse of Wild God especially, as well as the outro of Conversion, have the sort of dynamic beats that hook me.
On the other hand, the slower, almost-spoken Joy! also very much moved me. “We’ve all had too much sorrow, now is the time for joy” resonated deeply after a year of significant hardships. Perhaps it’s something to strive for.
Overall, to me it felt very atmospheric, and the Listening Room was a very interesting way to experience it. While I neither went in a fan, nor came out one, I’m very glad that I took the time and had the opportunity to get better acquainted with their work. Perhaps it will connect better an another time of my life, but it was quite enjoyable at the time as well.
You can listen to the Wild God album in its entirety as uploaded on Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds‘s YouTube channel.
What about you? Have you made any recent musical discoveries, or have any artist to recommend?
Have a great week ahead!
