It’s been a year since Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds’ last Irish gig (in the Olympia, and a bravura performance it was too) and two years since their last album, No More Shall We Part – so we were just beginning to get withdrawal pangs when the delicious Nocturama arrived.

Recorded over the course of one week during a break in their tour schedule, Nocturama was not pre-orchestrated at all – and as such was a huge departure, working-method-wise, from the thoughtfully-wrought compositions of No More Shall We Part. Possibly resultantly, it’s also quite a bit lighter in tone than much of his past work... but that coal-black sense of humour and stone’s-throw-from the-abyss songwriting sensibility still remain. It’s surely already earned a place on album-of-2003 lists.

But why not listen for yourself. To hear the clattering drums and shuddering fiddle of ‘Bring It On’, click here: regular quality high quality

And for a taste of the song of delight that is Wonderful Life, click here: regular quality high quality

To read the Hot Press review of Nocturama, click here.

And last but soitanly not least, to enter to win one of five Nick Cave goodie collections (one copy of Nocturama; one charming poster of Mr Cave; one postcard of same), answer this crazy easy question. On which Nick Cave / Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds album, can you find the song 'Red Right Hand'? (Look it up on Google if you like, we'll avert our eyes...) Send your answers to [email protected]. Good luck!