Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are set to release a collection of demos and other rare material as part of new release B-Sides & Rarities Part II.
Coming 16 years on from the release of B-Sides & Rarities, this second instalment of the series features 27 rare and unreleased tracks from 2006 to 2020, including the first recordings of tracks such as ‘Skeleton Tree’, ‘Girl In Amber’ and ‘Bright Horses’. Cave and Bad Seed Warren Ellis have compiled the collection, which will be released on double vinyl, double CD, deluxe double CD and digitally. There will also be a limited edition 7-inch vinyl box set that collects both instalments of the B-Sides & Rarities series.
You can listen to a previously unreleased cut from the release, ‘Vortex’, just above. The track was written and recorded in 2006 by Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos, but was never officially released as the band were unable to define it as either a Grinderman or Bad Seeds song.
Speaking about the new collection, Cave says: "I always liked the original B-Sides & Rarities more than any of our other albums. It’s the only one I’d listen to willingly. It seems more relaxed, even a bit nonsensical in places, but with some beautiful songs throughout. There is something, too, about the smallness of certain songs that is closer to their original spirit.
"B-Sides & Rarities Part II continues this strange and beautiful collection of lost songs from The Bad Seeds. I love the final side of the last disc because it reveals the small and fragile beginnings of some of my favourite Bad Seeds songs. ‘Waiting For You’ complete with bizarre ‘canning factory’ rhythm track, a gorgeous ‘Life Per Se’ deemed too sad for Skeleton Tree, and ‘Earthlings’ that some consider the finest track of the Ghosteen sessions."
Bad Seed Ltd. will release B-Sides & Rarities Part II on October 22, 2021.
