Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Live from KCRW

Recorded in LA for radio station KCRW earlier this year, this fourth Cave live set splices selections from recent studio album Push the Sky Away with choice cuts from the back catalogue. The Bad Seeds have been doing this long enough now, they’re probably at the stage where they could ape Elvis Costello’s Spectacular Spinning Songbook and let fate decree the setlist, so it’s a little disappointing that some of those older choices play a little safe.

An epic Higgs Boson Blues shines amongst the new stuff, and thumbs up for dusting off And No More Shall We Part. But older heads might balk at the inclusion yet again of The Mercy Seat and Jack the Ripper. In short: solid enough, expertly delivered, as ever, but hardly essential. Get the original recordings or get up close and personal: this halfway house doesn’t warm the blood like it should. [Gary Kaill]