Cave digs even deeper into his personal obsessions here than on the previous 'The Firstborn is Dead'. While firstborn's ominous bluesiness is still represented on the title track and 'Long Time Man,' the balance of this album sounds decidedly more european. It was here that Cave's gothic troubadour persona really began to take shape. He takes the role of the grim storyteller on the album's strongest track 'The Carny' (featured to fine effect in Wim Wenders' film 'Wings of Desire', in which Cave also appears as himself) and 'Stranger than Kindness.' there's a gauzy, almost supernatural feel to 'Your Funeral', evocative of the classic hammer horror films - classy and expertly constructed, but undeniably disturbing.