Nick Cave - Push away the sky

I missed this initially but the Push away the sky is so full of brooding Australian rock and ballads that it kind of feels like fan service. It feels close to the tone of Murder Ballads and other classic Cave and doesn't feel the need to fight or revel in it.

Opener We No Who U R is beautiful with Cave's haunting voice over a simple piano line. The closing title track is equally affecting. In between there are growled intimations of lust and death and gloomy vocal pictures of grim but beautiful life.

A very lovely and low-key release.

Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster: In the Garden

This is an awesome piece of gothic rock from a band I previously associated with limp-wristed indie fare. The EP costs £9 from HMV and while that is a lot for just one track it is actually a generous double cd affair with a live recording on the second disk. You can also get a digital download of the track via the band's website (although I had never heard of the site involved).

Thank you 6 Music for alerting me to this rocking track.