Nick Cave to release Seven Psalms, exploring "faith, rage, love, grief, mercy, sex and praise"

Nick Cave is to release a limited edition vinyl record featuring seven psalms, seven spoken word pieces he has set to music in collaboration with Warren Ellis.

Explaining the idea behind the release, which will emerge on June 17, Cave says, "While in lockdown I wrote a number of psalms, or small, sacred songs—one a day for a week. The seven psalms are presented as one long meditation—on faith, rage, love, grief, mercy, sex and praise. A veiled, contemplative offering borne of an uncertain time. I hope you like it."

In addition to the psalms, the record will feature a 12-minute instrumental track, recorded during the Carnage album sessions. It was produced by Cave with Luis Almau.

The vinyl will be released on Cave Things, Cave’s online store which launched in 2020, and will be available in record shops worldwide. The record's outer sleeve evokes the cover of a hymn or prayer book, printed on embossed petrol blue with a jewel-like title and crucifix rendered in metallic gold.

Those purchasing via Cave Things will also receive an exclusive Psalms Prayer Card.

The tracklist for Seven Psalms is:

Side A

1. How Long Have I Waited?
2. Have Mercy On Me
3. I Have Trembled My Way Deep
4. I Have Wandered All My Unending Days
5. Splendour, Glorious Splendour
6. Such Things Should Never Happen
7. I Come Alone And To You

Side B

1. Psalm Instrumental

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.