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Elly Roberts reviews
EMI
- Cat.no: 3343782
- Released: October 2005
- Rating: 4/10
During his 36-year recording history,Welshman John Cale has never had an album enter the UK charts.So, Cale can never be accused of selling his soul with blackAcetate.
The 63-year-old is not likely to change his tune, however unusual it might be.It has however, made the BBC Radio 2 playlisting. Since his debut in 1969 with (Columbia), Cale has forged a career of avante-gardeRocknRoll from the days of forming The Velvet Underground in 1966 with LouReed.
Originally a student of classical music, he was considered an extremist. Hisprofound repertoire is based upon a fascination with opposites, comprisinglyricism with noise, bluntness, subtlety, rapid change and sometimes hypnoticrepetition. BlackAcetate offers much of the same experimentation, addinghis strong baritone (here and there) with great effect.
Lauded as one ofPunks godfathers in the 70s, Cale has never ceased in being progressive,though theres a strong element of self-indulgence once again.Outta The Bag is a flushing stroll of mid-paced peculiarindieness as he stretches his voice to the extreme.Track three, Brotherman, is an overly laboured quirky cacophony, though.
Satisfied is a little mellow stunner, and as close as commercial asyou get on the entire album, which could actually be considered a single, ofsorts. Full of delightfully genteel touches it resonates high above anythingelse. In A Flood is a close second for accessibility, displaying a keenear for atmospherics and subtlety.
Jauntiness raises its head on the wiry and funky Hush (in the Princemode), again a possible single contender, as is raucous rip-roarer Perfect,showing his Punky tendencies. For serenity top marks, the winner is theethereal Gravel Drive. More odd experimentation seeps through onSold Motel with wiry guitars and raging synths.
Acoustic driven Wasteland is a subtle combination of orchestrationmeets delicate ballad. Going out on another mish-mash of musical ideas,Mailman leaves you rather weary as it plods along aimlessly to itsterminal lowpoint.
Its an interesting ride, but not one youll want to experience too often.
One for hardcore fans and musos.
Weblinks:John-Cale.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Outta The Bag
2. For A Ride
3. Brotherman
4. Satisfied
5. In A Flood
6. Hush
7. Gravel Drive
8. Perfect
9. Sold-Motel
10. Woman
11. Wasteland
12. Turn The Lights On
13. Mailman (The Lying Song)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.