Latest releases reviewed

NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS The Road to God Knows Where/Live at the Paradiso Mute ****

If there's a musician wary of journalists, it's Nick Cave. Perhaps it's an aversion to self-revelation, but The Road to God Knows Where (1990) proves an intriguing portrait of an uncompromising songwriter. Littered with on-the-road ennui and rabid live performances, it's broody and often funny. Whether he's tinkling a backstage piano, smoking endlessly or dancing to Madonna's Papa Don't Preach at a soundcheck, Cave is darkly charming to watch. Each song in the 1992 Live at the Paradiso set is introduced by Cave handwriting the title as per a setlist - except on Deanna, where he tumbles off the stage and promptly scratches it out. If The Road shows Nick's reflective, goofy side, Paradiso demonstrates his Jekyll-like vengeance, spitting lyrical bile over an adoring crowd as he did 13 years later, dynamic as ever, at last year's Electric Picnic. www.mute.com

Sinéad Gleeson

SYD BARRETT   Under Review Chrome Dreams ***

Lost whimsical genius or tragic drug casualty? The Syd Barrett debate has continued for more than 30 years, and indeed, so has the interest. Now a recluse living in Cambridge, financially cosseted through royalties from the continuing world-wide radio play of early Pink Floyd records, Barrett has grown from man to myth in the intervening period, and become one of rock's favourite genre subjects. Under Review is yet another in Chrome Dreams' series of knowledgeable talking heads (various writers and musicians) yak-yak-yakking. Unlike other titles in the series, this is full of interesting music snippets (Arnold Layne, See Emily Play, Bike) and some great archive live footage. Totally unauthorised it might be (and therefore lacking the kind of insight that someone such as Roger Waters might add), but as a primer on the short creative and public life of one of rock's most intriguing tragedies it's pretty much on the money. Extras include talk about a lost Barrett recording, contributor biogs, and a Syd Quiz.

Tony Clayton-Lea