On the edge of pristine
John Cale is a man who in almost every way, is a legend in his own right. Bringing that definitive viola sound to The Velvet Underground and cementing tracks like 'Venus In Furs' as ultimate classics in groundbreaking music, his solo career has been illustrious and diverse, spanning decades of releasing his own special blend of tuneful craft and producing records for a variety of well-known acts, from Sham 69 to Squeeze.
But, with 'Perfect' has he lost it? Well no, not exactly, the essence is still there and it's wrought with vitality, but it doesn't deliver that kick; it's not the same kind of excitement on this record, you listen with more of an interested glance as opposed to a stop-you-in-you-tracks 'what's that?!' perked ear.
John Cale is by no means young anymore, but we all know he sure as hell still has the fire inside him, but 'Perfect' is more of a flicker than an explosion. The solo is gorgeous, yet the chord sequence comes across as a bit paint-by-numbers... for someone so experimental and cutting edge to have influenced the Velvet's style in such an outlandish way, this release just appears a little staid.