The Fat Angel Sings

Nick Cave’s profoundly effective and affecting solo performance from earlier this year will be coming out to have and to hold this November.

These unique reinterpretations received effusive praise from any and all who bore witness. this is so much more than a live album or a live performance – these reinterpretations change the colour, tone and feel of every song in a way that proves that Cave is the finest songwriter of his (or, perhaps, any other) generation. This summer, Nick Cave hosted a ticketed livestream of a solo piano concert in London. That special will now be released as a live album and concert film. Packaged with four unreleased performances, Idiot Prayer: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace is coming to cinemas around the world on November 5th, and the live album will follow on November 20th. Watch the recording of “Galleon Ship” below.

Idiot Prayer features music from across Cave’s career, including early Bad Seeds, Grinderman, and material from his latest album Ghosteen. The film was shot by cinematographer Robbie Ryan and edited by Nick Emerson; Dom Monks recorded the music. Read Nick Cave’s statement about Idiot Prayer below.

The film Idiot Prayer evolved from my Conversations With… events. I loved playing deconstructed versions of my songs at these shows, distilling them to their essential forms. I felt I was rediscovering the songs all over again, and started to think about going into a studio and recording these reimagined versions at some stage – whenever I could find the time.

Then, the pandemic came—the world went into lockdown, and fell into an eerie, self-reflective silence. It was within this silence that I began to think about the idea of not only recording the songs, but also filming them. We worked with the team at Alexandra Palace—a venue I have played and love—on securing a date to film just as soon as they were allowed to re-open the building to us.

On 19th June 2020, surrounded by Covid officers with tape measures and thermometers, masked-up gaffers and camera operators, nervous looking technicians and buckets of hand gel, we created something very strange and very beautiful that spoke into this uncertain time, but was in no way bowed by it. This is the album taken from that film. It is a prayer into the void—alone at Alexandra Palace—a souvenir from a strange and precarious moment in history. I hope you enjoy it.

An essential album for every Nick Cave fan. we’re already counting down the days…the telegraph ****
“Cave’s solo live stream could be the most the beautiful and sombre performance he’s ever given” the guardian ****
“Cave’s performance in an empty hall, with just piano and voice, seems to try and ward off the terrifying silence of the covid-19 age” evening standard ****
“gravitas echoes beautifully in the void of an empty Alexandra Palace”

“This is the album taken from that film. It is a prayer into the void – alone at Alexandra Palace – a souvenir from a strange and precarious moment in history. I hope you enjoy it.”

After its cinematic release, Idiot Prayer will be released on vinyl, CD and streaming services on November 20th.