Nick Cave is an eclectic artist, his work comprising both musical pieces with The Bad Seeds and occasional appearances in films. His latest contribution touches both fields, as he re-recorded a cover of Leonard Cohen’s ”Avalanche”, track which is also included in the trailer for the second season of the adventure-drama television series Black Sails.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds previously recorded a cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘’Avalanche’’ three decades ago, in 1984, when the track was included in the first Bad Seeds album, From Her to Eternity. The first version of the record kept very little resemblance with the original and Nick Cave managed to include his personal musical trademark into the track. The sound of the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds ‘’Avalanche’’ was a gloomy and gothic one, in comparison to the dominantly melancholic and mellow tune of the original version. The remake proved to be in tune with the dark message of the lyrics: ‘’ You who wish to conquer pain/ You must learn to serve me well’’ or Your pain is no credential here/ It’s just a shadow of my wound.’’
Three decades after the first cover of ‘’Avalanche’’ was released, a new version of a Nick Cave record of Leonard Cohen’s song is available and also appears in the soundtrack for the television series Black Sails. The adventure series is a pirate-life portrayal and the sea adventures of Captain Flint and his crew is a remembrance of Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island. The first episode of the sea-set show aired on 25 January 2014 and the series will return for its second season in 24 January 2015. Starz revealed the trailer of the upcoming season and behind the pirate story, the voice of Nick Cave can be heard repeating the dramatic and dark lines of ‘’Avalanche’’. Although this cover is more faithful to Leonard Cohen’s original, Cave keeps his personal pace and charm untouched.