For all the anarchic glee in much of his music, Nick Cave approaches his artistic calling with a deep discipline. For Nocturama, he worked nine-to-five in his piano-furnished office and wrote these carefully sculpted tunes that are mostly among the quietest and subtlest of his career. “Wonderful Life” begins the dark drama with stately-paced piano chords and that authoritative vocal finality that Cave breathes into his finest work. “He Wants You” turns unexpectedly romantic and gentle with piano and strings. “Right Out of Your Hand,” “Bring It On” and “Still In Love” show Cave as a convincing balladeer, without lapsing into his usual lounge singer approach. “Rock of Gibraltar” comes across as a modern day hymn. “Dead Man in My Bed” breaks up the solemnity with a blast of old school Bad Seeds aggression and Cave’s hysterically over-the-top album closer, the fifteen-minute assault “Babe, I’m on Fire” is a relentless attack that old-time Birthday Party fans and those attracted to his Grinderman project will certainly find compelling.