STACK #230 December 2023

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Nick Cave and Warren Ellis Australian Carnage Were you fortunate enough to attend one

Peter Gabriel i/o It’s unusual for a musician’s voice to consistently improve with age, but it’s certainly the case with Peter Gabriel; there aren’t enough adjectives to describe the perfectly intact, sublime sound of the Englishman’s vocals. We’ll just have to settle on ’sensational’, though even that’s an understatement. The intriguing cover art of i/o embraces the

of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis’ 16 Australian Carnage shows late last year? Same! Well, this live album will take you right back to the catharsis and revelation that audiences collectively experienced as treasured images from the memory bank come flooding back

typical portrait style Gabriel prefers, but also gives Escher-meets-Picasso, mathematician dancing with surrealist. It’s intelligent symbolism for this double album, which is split into a light mix and a dark mix, with all 12 tracks appearing on each. He’s a clever little rascal, clearly having fun with his audience and loving what he’s doing. It’s evident in the depth of his lyrics and his timeless arrangements, which will have you singing along, thinking deeply, and hungrily going back for more. Opener Panopticom might remind you of Genesis pre-1975, but it also embodies a poetic eeriness that could easily slide into The Lost Boys soundtrack. Praying for Time is especially poignant; it’s 1977’s Solsbury Hill , with layers of the artist’s cover of The Magnetic Fields’ Book of Love , both graceful and sobering. The title track is lyrically humbling, putting us in our place: ”Stuff coming out, stuff going in/ I’m just a part of everything” ...and aren’t we all? If this is what 20 years of long-player hiatus looks like, we can forgive Gabriel for waiting to deliver. He’s backing himself on i/o , and he’s not alone. (Real World) Trista McConville

(e.g., Ellis lying back over a chair, knees bent up like a turtle trying to flip over, sawing away at his battered violin). And who could forget what Cave describes as Ellis’ trademark ”deeply erotically charged” song count-ins? (Thankfully recorded for posterity here.) Seven of the eight tracks that appear on Australian Carnage ’s vinyl edition are pulled from two of Cave’s grief-reckoning albums: 2019’s Ghosteen , and 2021’s Carnage . Rounding out the track list is Breathless , resplendent with Ellis’ airy flute playing. Cave playfully introduces this cut from 2004’s double album, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus , thusly: ”This is a joyful song, so make the f-cking most of it.” In light of Cave tragically losing not one but two sons in recent years (in separate incidents), many lyrics are especially crushing to hear these days; try not to sob as Waiting for You ’s high notes prove slightly out of reach, Cave’s voice cracking with emotion. However, lively between-song banter adds some much-needed levity throughout. Wish you were there? Never fear, Australian Carnage - Live at the Sydney Opera House documents these once-in-a-lifetime, life-changing shows for eternity. (Bad Seed Ltd) Bryget Chrisfield

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The Killers Rebel Diamonds Gear up for another celebratory soirée with The Killers, as the Las Vegas powerhouse get set to release the second greatest hits compilation of their illustrious career. While we anticipate the timing may be met with some raised eyebrows (after all, the band are still actively touring and putting out new music), don’t expect any Grinch-like grumbles from

Dolly Parton Rockstar Are you sitting down while reading this review? Fifty-six years after the release of her first album, Dolly Parton has recorded an album of rock covers with a host of musical guests, many of whom appeared on the original hit recordings. The 30 tracks (with three HSN exclusive bonus tracks on the CD release) include Let it Be (feat. Paul McCartney), Every Breath You Take (feat. Sting), Baby, I Love Your Way (feat. Peter Frampton), Long As I Can See the Light (feat. John Fogerty), Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me (feat. Elton John), Freebird (feat. Lynyrd Skynyrd), Stairway to Heaven, Purple Rain, and We Are the Champions. An incredible triumph from the leading lady of country. (Big Machine) Billy Pinnell

REM Automatic for the People (vinyl reissue)

REM’s Automatic for the People stands as a landmark in alternative rock, and rightfully so. Released in 1992, its haunting melodies and poignant lyrics, especially in tracks like Nightswimming and Drive, reflect a timeless mastery from Michael Stipe and company. Stipe’s enigmatic vocals weave seamlessly into the band’s aural tapestry, creating an album which transcends the sounds of its era. Its contemplative atmosphere and thematic depth resonate as powerfully today as they did upon original release. Reissued on ltd. edn, yellow vinyl, Automatic for the People is a testament to REM’s artistic prowess, a poetic journey that effortlessly navigates the complexities of the human experience. (Universal) Jacqui Picone

us here at STACK – we’re all in for this holiday season nostalgia ride! Brandon Flowers and co. have been busy at work since the release of Direct Hits in 2013, recording three more studio albums in addition to a special Christmas compilation. What that means is plenty more fertile ground for the career spanning Rebel Diamonds to mine, and perhaps our only gripe with this record is that it could have been longer (where is Bones for goodness’ sake?). As expected, early-career classics make an appearance ( Mr. Brightside, When You Were Young ) as do their mid-career standouts ( Runaways, The Man ). The real gems, however, are the band’s more recent highlights, tucked away at the back-end of the tracklist. The synth-adorned anthems from 2020’s Imploding the Mirage pulsate with area-rock grandeur ( Caution, My Own Soul’s Warning , and Dying Breed ), while inclusions from 2021’s Pressure Machine (the title track and Quiet Town ) radiate with endearing small-town spirit which feels more reminiscent of a homage to Springsteen than to The Killer’s indie rock influences of old. To cap off this stellar collection we’re treated to a song fresh off the recording deck named Spirit ; it’s an absolute pearler, primed to be belted at festivals across the globe. Has Christmas come early for Killers fans? You betcha! (Universal) Alex Burgess

38 DECEMBER 2023

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