17 June 2024
82-year-old VU legend JOHN CALE is one of those artists who’ll never stop
making music until his final breath. Back in January 2023 he released one
of the finest records of that year with Mercy. It featured invitees such as
Animal Collective, Weyes Blood, Sylvan Esso, Laurel Halo, and, yes, British
misfits Fat White Family.
Only 18 months later Cale has bagged another album. He named it
POPtical Illusion and he will share it with world on June 14. The songs
were written around the time he worked on Mercy.
Press info: “Despite the album’s playful title, Cale’s second album in just over
a year still contains the same feelings of fierce and inquisitive rage that were
present in 2023 album MERCY. He remains angry, still incensed by the willful
destruction that unchecked capitalists and unrepentant conmen have hoisted
upon the wonders of this world and the goodness of its people.
But this is not at all MERCY II, or some collection of castoffs, as throughout his career of more than six decades, Cale has never been much for repetition. His vanguard-shaping enthusiasms have shifted among ecstatic classicism and unbound rock, classic songcraft and electronic reimagination with proud restlessness.”
Press photo
TUTV: This is the Welshman‘s 18th solo LP, only 18 months after the previous one, named Mercy. Cale is still facing his demons as he did on Mercy but here it sounds as if he knows how to beat them.
The layered-synths atmosphere and the rich orchestrations resonate more sanguine here and there, like on Davies And Wales, How We See The Light , and All To Good , songs you can hum along. and hypnotizing single Shark-Shark you can move and groove to.
But the overall tone still is pensive and meditative, no traditional rock ‘n’ roll for Cale,
with past/present reflections like on Calling You Out, Edge Of Reason, Setting Fires and the closing piano ballad There Will Be No River. At 82 his voice hasn’t aged whatsoever, still instrumental and a indispensable factor in his arrestingly crafted work. Remarkable.
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JC: Linktree