Nick Cave & Debbie Harry Release Single ‘On The Other Side’ (The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project)

Nearly ten years in the making, ‘The Task Has Overwhelmed Us‘ is the long-awaited fourth volume in The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project series.

Following 2009’s We Are Only Riders, 2012’s The Journey Is Long and 2014’s Axels and Sockets, The Task Has Overwhelmed Us presents stellar interpretations of tracks from Pierce’s Gun Club and solo canons along with fresh works constructed from rehearsal skeletons, previously unheard lyrics, songs only performed live.

‘On The Other Side’ by Nick Cave & Debbie Harry is the first single release from the album

Two of the most distinctive voices in music, Cave and Harry seemed made to duet together from their time-stopping rendition of ‘Free to Walk’ on We Are Only Riders (along with Debbie’s heart- pulling ‘Lucky Jim’). It was followed by ‘The Breaking Hands’ on volume two, volume three’s ‘Into the Fire’ and now ‘On The Other Side’.

Jeffrey Lee Pierce only performed the song live a few times, faster in tempo before being transformed into an exquisite ballad with Cave on piano, Cypress Grove on guitar, synth by Warren Ellis and Guido Benigni on bass providing a sensitive backdrop to Nick and Debbie’s unearthly vocal.

In an interview with Gene Temesy, Nick Cave said of Jeffrey, “He genuinely cared about other people. He was very genuine. And you know, I loved him very much. And I think he was a great songwriter.” Debbie Harry added, “He had a good heart…. And, you know, it’s surprising how great his lyrics were, how original they were.”

The film clip features photos of Jeffrey Lee Pierce and The Gun Club from the archives of photographer David Arnoff. The photos were taken at various locations in Los Angeles and West London between 1981 and 1992.

David Arnoff photographic prints available from www.davidarnoff.com/

TRACK CREDITS
Nick Cave – vocals, piano
Debbie Harry – vocals
Cypress Grove – guitar
Warren Ellis – synth
Guido Benigni – bass

Recorded by Chris Blakey (Brighton) and Tom Camuso at Studio E Recording, Brooklyn, NY
Mixed by Chris Blakey
Arrangement by Suzie Stapleton