Though John Cale hasn’t released a lot of material over the past decade, the legendary Welsh artist has nonetheless been a notable presence, whether through his reworking of his 1982 album “Music for a New Society” or his collaborations with electronic producer Kelly Lee Owens. With “Mercy“, he invites a dazzling list of guest collaborators, including Animal Collective, Laurel Halo and Sylvan Esso, and on lead single “Story of Blood,” Weyes Blood’s Natalie Mering. “Mercy” is Velvet Underground founding member John Cale’s first album in a decade and one of his least obtuse. This album is elegant and very modern sounding, His song writing continues to grow more strange and fascinating, and despite his more-than-50-years of making music, as relevant as ever.
“Mercy” is Velvet Underground founding member John Cale’s first album in a decade and one of his least obtuse. This album is elegant and very modern sounding, and not just because it features contributions from Animal Collective, Weyes Blood, Sylvan Esso, Laurel Halo, Tei Shi, Actress, and Fat White Family. In fact his collaborators mostly are doing subtle under-the-hood work on this album that feels seamless in concept and execution, like a drop of mercury gliding across polished stainless steel. If tracks didn’t say “Featuring” you probably wouldn’t ever wonder if there were guests at all. It’s Cale’s show all the way, with a spotlight on his still soaring, sonorous voice, backed with lush electronics, taking current hip hop and R&B production and bending it to his will.
If tracks didn’t say “Featuring” you probably wouldn’t ever wonder if there were guests at all. It’s Cale’s show all the way, with a spotlight on his still soaring, sonorous voice, backed with lush electronics, taking current hip hop and R&B production and bending it to his will.
John Cale – from the album ‘Mercy’ out 20 Jan 2023 on Double Six / Domino Recordings.
The Fat Angel Sings 