So this is it. The century has been reached, and (for the time being at least) so has the end of Welsh Wednesdays. I think it's run its course but it's been a lot of fun and I may well revive it at some point as I still have quite a few tunes I want to feature, as well as what will inevitably be lots of new stuff.
It's interesting when you do a long-running series such as this. I've found that some things I think will go down really well garner very little interest at all, while some other unlikely posts end up being quite popular. I just cannot predict you lot!
Anyway, to round things off in fitting style (for now), we return to one of Wales' most legendary and innovative artists. Someone (Dirk, maybe) recommended John Cale's 2003 album 'Hobo Sapien' some time back. It was his first album in seven years and was a major critical success. It's not an easy record to listen to in places, but then that's exactly what you expect from Cale. It has a heavily electronic sound, contrasting dark, ominous moments with bright, poppy twists.
There's a hidden track in the pregap, a re-recorded version of Set Me Free which originally featured on Cale's previous record 'Walking On Locusts'. It's a wonderful track, and I was tempted to post that one, but instead I went for Look Horizon. Very Bowie-esque, I think, though I'm hesitant to compare Cale with anyone as he's more likely to have influenced than to have been influenced. Let's not forget, Bowie made no secret of his love of the Velvet Underground. Even so, I can't help thinking Look Horizon might have fit on a number of Bowie's albums, including the last two. In case you're wondering, the female voice on this is Cale's 18-year-old daughter Eden.
A new Wednesday series starts in September, taking us beyond Welsh borders. Until we return, diolch am wrando.
#43: Fear Is A Man's Best Friend by John Cale After all those young upstarts I featured last month, it's time for a true, distinguished veteran of the Welsh scene...
You all know who John Cale is; you all know what band he was in. There's no point therefore in giving you any biographical stuff. Well, other than my fave Cale factoid: in 1963, he took part in an 18-hour piano marathon when composer John Cage staged the first full-length public performance of Satie's Vexations. It was $5 a ticket, audience members could enter when they pleased and claim 5c back for every 20 minutes attended. Only six people were present at the end, and only one of them had been there from the start. At the climax, some wag shouted "Encore!"
Anyway, I digress. Cale is 73 years young now, but continues to be a respected musician, composer, producer and occasional actor. His solo career as a so-called 'rock musician' (for want of a better term) has been a bit of a rollercoaster, and his output has reflected that over the years. Despite spending much of his adult life in the USA, Cale still carries the Welsh lilt he acquired in his formative years in Carmarthenshire.
A couple of suggestions for Cale tracks have come my way[1], but in the end, I decided to go for Fear Is A Man's Best Friend, the opening track from his fourth studio solo album 'Fear' from 1974. It's one I've always liked, especially the crazy, screaming breakdown he seems to be having at the end. I might go for something a little 'easier' by Cale in a future post, but for now, this fits quite well with where I am in the world.
Here he is performing it live on the BBC with Chrissie Hynde and Nick Cave in attendance...
[1] I haven't ignored those suggestions, I'll probably revisit them for a future article. This track just fits the bill right now.
