A pale shadow of former size

Which of John Cale has a dozen excellent albums from the 70s and 80s on the shelves, on the one hand open for more and open to new ideas, on the other hand willing to be in doubt, the church in the village. So it goes at least to me and the current CD / 2LP by John Cale, growing expectations the left after a seven-year hiatus in the studio, is not a reason to cheer. To put it briefly: Rows of self-citations in the zeitgeist typical sound robe - Trendsetter Danger Mouse on the controls to apparently increase the saleability! - Contrary to the John Cales history as an innovator of pop music before adjustment and embarrassment does not shrink.

After the enormous pale EP Extra Playful (2011) is one of John Cale, who could manage no more feat since 1982 Music For A New Society, as usual, some disillusionment. What was this man but once a songwriter: continue to Hedda Gabler, Dead Or Alive, Fear Is A Mans Best Friend, Hanky ​​Panky Nohow, Buffalo Ballet, Taking It All Away, Chinese Envoy The series could and each track is filled in jotting down with melody and with life of its own. Where is the only gone? Those pop-blocks which are ranked in Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood without Redetecting value in radio-friendly garment together, bribe only by John Cales always expressive voice. That's how you know them since the seventies. The songwriting and production and, unfortunately, the texts are only a blueprint former greatness, a hint of remembrance, the flies without substance, as soon as the pickup depends in Endrille. We now know that this record is tomorrow sound merely to yesterday and to nothing else.

Nevertheless, one should not forget that this man was in his time one of the greats of rock music. From its present, embarrassing self-presentation that is not stylish, unfortunately for 20 years, and the horrific video for the single Face To The Sky I will not say anything. But the album Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood brings to the former superiority and maturity over pure nothing. Those who want to learn to enjoy the truly great songs John Cales know or even only, should access to the studio albums by the year 1984, ie to Carribean Sunset and then listen for the often excellent live recordings or to practice renunciation. Personally, I am sorry, but that chapter John Cale is final for me with this album by.