I found my perfect album. Push the Sky Away makes my day, my night, my 9 hour Bangkok-Sydney sleepless flight. No matter what mood it suits me. You know how most music only works with particular moods, but this one just transcends.

The first time I listened to it fully was on that flight. I had nine hours to fill – with sleep, I had to go straight to work from the airport. Instead I listened to Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds again and again, play and repeat, play and repeat.

I wanted to hear every word and I didn’t sleep a wink. Well worth the consequent jet lag.

For weeks after that and even now, especially when I’m lacking inspiration, I put it on.

I realised it was somewhat strange how I found it ok to listen to the same songs back to back, but it’s only when we’re young that we seem to want to do that with stories. Now I’m surrounded by babies and little folk in general I’ve seen how they just never get sick of hearing their favourite stories again and again. You come to the last page of the book and the perpetual question is uttered, “again?”

A friend drew my attention to this when he told me he’d read a book he’d enjoyed so much he just turned straight back to the first page and started again. I wondered why I’d stopped doing that so many years ago. I certainly enjoy re-reading books I’ve loved, but I need a considerable break in between reads.

On the other side of the coin, is another friend who doesn’t ever re-read or re-watch or re-visit. She believes there is so much to see and learn and do and experience that one time over is all the time she can apportion to any one thing.

But I could never follow that logic – yes, there is definitely too much to experience in life, and not enough time; but there is no way you could experience the complete worth or beauty of something in one time only. Love grows. It doesn’t always present itself at the first encounter.

My love for Nick Cave’s music was a slow progression from brief glimpses in my teen years to full immersion in my late twenties.

And it only took me 9 hours for Push the Sky Away..