While he’s still one of my favourite musical artists, I think that by the time this was released my obsession was subsiding, and this was bought more out of habit than genuine excitement. It certainly doesn’t get played as much as the earlier stuff, and I can’t help thinking the conceit of issuing two albums in one package (rather than just a double album) is partly responsible.
Abattoir Blues opens with Get Ready For Love, a full on rock hymn, and a stunning start, before a heartfelt Cave ballad Cannibal’s Hymn - listenable but nothing special. Hiding All The Way is a powerful, darker chaotic narrative, followed by the much gentler, but equally powerful Messiah Ward. And the quality continues with the fantastic There She Goes My Beautiful World, the slower title track, and the glorious Nature Boy. Let The Bells Ring is a joyous song, while the first disc ends with the strange Fable Of The Brown Ape, one of those odd songs I can’t decide whether I like or not.
The Lyre Of Orpheus starts with its title track, a slow repetitive chant telling the ancient myth, which to me sounds leaden and frankly self-indulgent, while Breathless and Babe You Turn Me On are pleasant if lightweight songs. The gentler mood continues with Easy Money, but this too, lacks the usual Cave punch. Supernaturally is a little more lively without being in danger of being remembered as one of his classics. This disc is clearly intended as the softer one of the two - hence ‘two albums, rather than a double’, but the songs don’t feel to have the strength of Cave’s less frantic output on albums like The Boatman’s Call, and Spell and Carry Me continue this theme. It’s not that any of them are bad songs, far from it, but you know he’s done far stronger material, and the final song, O Children, doesn’t bring this album to the climax it deserves.
Real mixed emotions here - so much on Abattoir Blues is up with Cave’s best work, and standing alone a five star review would have been under consideration, but Lyre of Orpheus fails to reach a bar set high.
3* - Abattoir Blues will return to the CD player many times in the future, but I’m not sure about Lyre Of Orpheus.
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