1992 in albums: Henry’s Dream, by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Somewhere between the Old Testament and the New

Henry’s Dream — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

In 1992, a rapidly changing world presented all kinds of previously unthinkable possibilities. Could Russia become a democracy? Could South Africa have a Black president?

Could Nick Cave be… happy?

Everyone’s favourite outlaw junkie preacher gothic art rocker had gotten married, and now he lived in Brazil with his wife and infant son. What would this mean for his music? Was he going to settle down and mellow out?

Yes. But not quite yet.

Henry’s Dream confirmed that Cave was still the fire and brimstone preacher that we knew and loved. The record comes thundering out of the gates with the Old Testament roar of ‘Papa Won’t Leave You Henry’:

But there is definitely a transition occurring on this record. Cave spent much of his early life obsessed with the Old Testament. The violence…