Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Midnight Man review

The title of the latest single from the Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! album may or may not be a reference to the Marvel comic anti-hero of the same name, but one thing is for sure, ‘Midnight Man’ broods with the malevolence and graphic violence one would associate with the stuff of pulp fiction – and ‘Old Nick’ in general. As entertaining musically as it is lyrically, this compelling, groove-driven track seems to both reflect, and hold in check, the ruthless enthusiasm of Cave’s recent Grinderman project. Whilst it features the raucous guitars, black humour and seedy depravity so celebrated on that album, it also drops a gear too, bringing combo organs and emotional vulnerability back to the fore. It’s engaging stuff, and a reminder that Cave is one of the few artists of such longevity that have continued to remain creative and relevant. He may be no spring chicken, but this is no desperate, wilting eleventh hour compromise; on the contrary, ‘Midnight Man’ exemplifies the consistent quality we’ve come to expect of our hero.