Nick Cave is a lyrical genius. He has a gift for words that transcends his awesome songwriting capabilities, and whose eloquence is just as heavily present in his poetry and the prose of his novel. And the Ass Saw the Angel is actually a book penned by Cave and this release was recorded to accompany a stage adaptation of the book. There are four spoken word tracks that could melt ice in Antarctica--you see, Nick Cave is like a deranged, Australian Barry White. The remaining twelve songs are composed and performed by two of The Bad Seeds and remain on an ethereal plane, devoid of any vocals to speak of.

These tracks are definitely more experimental than what might be expected of Cave's later work, but less cacaphonous than The Birthday Party days. His foray into uncharted territory should only re-emphasize the glory of his talents. If this piques your curiosity, I would suggest listening to a more accessible release, maybe Let Love In or even his greatest hits compilation. And if you're ever in the mood for a bizarre read, check out the book or some of his poetry; he has an uncanny knack for conveying the depth and darkness of the human experience.