This Much I Know to Be True (2022)

Electric - This Much I Know to Be True review by sb

Nick Cave's second collabaration with Director Domonik - the first was around the recording of Skeleton Key the album he made after the tragic accidental death of one of his twin teenage sons.

This is based around the subsequent records (where he is still working through his grief)and is based around live studio sessions filmed in a disused warehouse in Brighton.

The set up is superb - sometimes its just Cave and his long time collabarator Warren Ellis expanding to a 4 piece string section and 4 piece choir plus a drummer (Cave's other surviving son) and they have a built this circular camera track so while one camera does close-ups the other constantly prowls around with the two intercut.

As always the joy of Cave live is him - all angular austerity with his arms spread wide as he sings with hands spread in almost Papal Benediction while Ellis with his long hair and beard looks like an Old Testament prophet - and throughout there is a real religious epiphany element to it all.

The lighting is very good - mostly sombre hews and shadows but the room is suddenly filled with brilliant white light pouring from the ceiling in very short bursts as the music soars.

and the music - I think he just gets better every time - songs packed with trains, ghosts, suitcases, love, loss and redemption - its all quite extraordinary - much to love if you are a fan or not - 4/5