The Boatman's Call  by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

The Boatman's Call was the tenth album by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. It was recorded in the summer of 1996 in London and released in March 1997. The Boatman's Call marks a huge change in Nick Cave's sound, to the point that if he had the chance to hear The Boatman's Call - let's say - ten years earlier, he wouldn't recognize himself. The change in musical style would follow him for the rest of his career with few exceptions, where he would again engage in more "dynamic" orchestrations.

The Boatman's Call is an album filled from start to finish with slow-paced songs without complex orchestrations, which mostly rely on the piano. Nothing reminds of the rough, despair-filled compositions of the '80s. All the songs are written by Nick Cave, while the production is by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Flood, who also exceptionally engages with such a simple record.

The Boatman's Call certainly stands as a unique moment in the long and multifaceted career of the Australian artist and his almost permanent ensemble, the Bad Seeds. It was a special album for a special artist, who felt the need to make a turn in his career, as well as in his personal life. Sales of the album are estimated at 500,000 copies worldwide.