Audio CD review:
John Cale - Circus Live

John Cale - Circus Live

Band: John Cale Title: Circus Live Rating: Release Date: 26 February, 2007 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Venus in Furs 2: Save Us 3: Helen of Troy 4: Woman 5: Buffalo Ballet 6: Femme Fatale/Rosegarden Funeral of Sores 7: Hush 8: Outtathebag 9: Set Me Free 10: Ballad of Cable Hogue 11: Look Horizon 12: Magritte 13: Dirty Ass Rock and Roll 14: Walking the Dog 15: Gun 16: Hanky Panky Nohow 17: Pablo Picasso/Mary Lou 18: Drone-Intro Amsterdam Suite 19: Zen 20: Style It Takes 21: Heartbreak Hotel 22: Mercenaries (Ready for War) 23: Outro Drone 24: Jumbo in the Modernworld [DVD] 25: Graveldrive [Blathamix][Multimedia Track] 26: Big White Cloud [2007 Version] 27: Bonus Material [DVD]

Customer Reviews Radically new arrangements! Not the usual run-through of your old favorites, which is mainly the case with these affairs, but rather, complete reinvention. What a great live album. At first I was a little disappointed reading the titles as there was little in the way of John Cale's recent (and in my opinion, best) works, but listening dispelled that. All of these mostly older tunes have been rewritten with, in some cases, radically different arrangements. Actually to the point where they are different. . . almost like an album of new material. Imagine a slow, almost gentle, albeit sinister Mercenaries! There are also extensive droning effects throughout (the beginning, between the "end" of the concert and the encore, and the actual coda), harkening back to John Cale's early experimental roots. All of this is supported by the technically perfect musicianship of players. Take away the applause between many of the tracks and it sounds like a studio album, only better because of the high-energy that comes with live music territory. The presentation is excellent as well. Nice "slippery" slip-case with excellent and clever art, graphics and documentation throughout. . Great music, but what's with the sound? Every song is completely different from the original, so it's like two discs of adventurous brand new music. I have never been fortunate enough to see Cale live, so I treasure this. One question though: I have heard at least two comments from people on the great sound quality. Mine, however, sounds like a medium-quality bootleg, hugely disappointing. Anyone know if there are multiple versions of this?. he really is special This "album" is terrific. I've seen Cale a couple of times spread out over thirty years. The band is fantastic, Cale gives them LOTS of freedom to jam, and he himself is in impeccable form. He is a great artist - there are just no more like him. Thank you (again), Mr. Cale. Oh - and the packaging is wonderful - great images, the booklet is substantial (30 pages?), and the workmanship is top-notch. A great bargain for what you get! . . You can see a complete list of all John Cale discography, or go back to the John Cale tabs