Chilling brilliance brought to the intimate, powerful front of Carnage. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis have pushed and pulled at their creative forces time and time again. Kingdom in the Sky marks the pair three decades on from their first performance. Live at Hanging Rock puts them at the core of Central Australia with their 2021 album, Carnage, the core of their setlist here. Hanging Rock provides a powerful place for these tracks. Land that was once an active volcano, Cave and Ellis are an eruption on formerly dangerous ground. Powerful, intense and moving their pairing has been over so many years, seeing it live and liberating as it is here is a wonderful treat.
Kingdom in the Sky is not just a concert film. Soulful bashes of the piano from Cave hook into interviews with those in the crowd. Presence without attendance is difficult to capture but speaking to those at the gig about their memories and connection to Cave’s music gives that feeling of belonging. Lighter tones are struck on Breathless, a flute-led beauty from Ellis that focuses on the upbeat, rhythmic qualities underscoring what has and always will be touching, moving writing. Little credit is given to directors who successfully create the atmosphere that captures these tracks and stage performances. Cave has been no stranger to directors showing his skill for the stage, nor is Ellis. Kingdom in the Sky is a short, sweet treat.
A mini rip from a gig at Hanging Rock. Not quite the powerhouse of artistic inference as This Much I Know To Be True, but having a view of the Cave and Ellis collaboration in its live form is beautiful. Live in the sense of a public showing. Cave particularly has showcased his skills for the divine qualities of his voice on Idiot Prayer from a time when performance with people was impossible. Moving back to the audience gives a view of how Cave interacts, includes and responds to the vibrancy of a crowd. Cave and Ellis’ work together is perennial. To have it in new forms and accessed as easily as this is a gift. Surrounding the clarity and hope of the likes of Henry Lee are the essentials of Ellis and Cave. They are entertainers through and through.
Speaking of their feelings toward Cave and his music, the collaborative power that Ellis brings, and the frequency at which they do it, give a real perspective that lies underneath Kingdom in the Sky. Cave has genuine compassion at the core of his music. An earnestness and intensity, a clarity for what he hopes to present to those that see him live, is always at the heart of his album work. It is no surprise that the transfer of that, from the classic continuations of Into My Arms and newer track Hand of God, it all feels set to be rightly marvelled at. Power and intensity surge from the flailing movements of Ellis and the connective intensity that comes from Cave in the face of his audience. Intensity like that is unique to Cave. It feels guided by some higher intensity than just performance. Care is taken, and Kingdom in the Sky shows that as clearly as possible.
Discover more from Cult Following
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
