Standout longplayers

21 January 2023

No retirement for the 80-year-old JOHN CALE. He’s one of
the many musicians that will go on until their last breath.

The Welsh icon just released his 17th solo longplayer.
It’s called MERCY and is out via Double Six/Domino.

The album features a cool club of guests. Animal Collective, Sylvan
Esso, Laurel Halo, Tei Shi, Actress, and yes, Fat White Family too.

Press info: “Cale’s first full album in a decade, moves through true dark-night-of-the-soul electronic torment toward vulnerable love songs and hopeful considerations for the future with the help of some of music’s most curious young minds. Cale has always searched for new ways to explore old ideas of alienation, hurt, and joy; Mercy is the latest transfixing find of this unsatisfied mind.”

UNCUT: “Mercy is the most out-there work Cale has made in some time. The presence of Cale’s voice – familiar, rich and avuncular – almost disguises just how radical much of the music is.” 9/10.

TUTV: No earworms, no feel good tunes, no pop hits. At 80 Cale still explores his mind and soul and he does it with shadowy introspections and chilling musings. Gloomy electronics create an obscure atmosphere and sometimes it feels like Cale is trapped in the labyrinth of his own psyche. You need several spins to get into the former VU legend’s world, but once you’re there the experience is spellbinding.

SINGLES: Night Crawling / Story Of Blood / Noise Of You

– NIGHT CRAWLING –

– STORY OF BLOOD –

– NOISE OF YOU –

FULL ALBUM

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TOUR

JOHN CALE: Bio – Discography – Instagram