Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds 'Finishing' New Album

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds fans, rejoice: a new album is coming your way, possibly sooner than you think.

Before answering three heady questions a fan named Lauren asked on his Red Hand Files Q&A website (“Do you believe in the concept of a soulmate? Who cooks in your house? Who does the cleaning in your house?”), Cave gave an update on the upcoming Bad Seeds album.

“Thank you for your kind words,” he began, “but before I answer I’d like to let everyone know that I am now back in the studio finishing the new Bad Seeds record.

“I will continue to read all the letters that come in, and will be with you in spirit, but my replies may not be that regular or very expansive over the next few weeks.”

In January, Cave revealed that his plan for 2023 was “to make a new record with the Bad Seeds,” he told a fan named Fred on the Red Hand Files.

He continued, “This is both good news and bad news. Good news because who doesn’t want a new Bad Seeds record? Bad news because I’ve got to write the bloody thing.” The new Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds record will follow 2019's heartbreaker, Ghosteen.

From there, Cave went into a vividly hilarious description of his feelings towards songwriting, calling the practice “the pits”, “jumping for frogs”, “the shits”, and “actually hurts”.

He added, “I’m actually scared. But it always does. Last long. To write a song. You hope to God there is something left. You are bereft. I’m going to stop this letter. It isn’t making things better. It’s like flogging a dead horse. Worse. It’s a hearse. A hearse of dead verse. Dead, Fred. Dead.”

In October 2021, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds released B-Sides & Rarities Part II, the follow-up release to 2005’s B-Sides & Rarities.

Released on double vinyl, double CD, deluxe double CD and all digital platforms, the endeavour, compiled by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, was also released together as a limited edition deluxe seven vinyl box set, boasting 83 rare tracks and some exclusive sleeve notes.

Cave said about the deluxe album in a press release: “B-Sides & Rarities Part II continues this strange and beautiful collection of lost songs from The Bad Seeds. I love the final side of the last disc because it reveals the small and fragile beginnings of some of my favourite Bad Seeds songs: Waiting For You, complete with bizarre ‘canning factory’ rhythm track, a gorgeous Life Per Se deemed too sad for Skeleton Tree, and Earthlings that some consider the finest track of the Ghosteen sessions.”