John Cale: legendary, exquisite, contemporary avant-garde

John Cale has been one of rock’s seminal figures over the last 50 years. He was part of The Velvet Underground, arguably the most influential American band of the late 60’s; he has worked with artists like La Monte Young, Brian Eno, Patti Smith and Nico, and he has also composed the soundtracks of several remarkable films. If that wasn’t enough, he has a distinguished career as a solo artist. His latest record, Shifty adventures in Nookie Wood (2012) is another great proof of his talent. The album manages to combine catchy hooks over often somber and always well-crafted arrangements. In my opinion, what makes Shifty adventures… such a great material is its contemporary sound. Recent records by other rock legends tend to sound stale, even rusty, but Cale’s most recent effort is a testament to his acute sense when it comes to produce music that belongs to an era that lies ahead of the present -I guess that’s why he’s often considered one of avant-garde’s most prominent hallmarks.

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