In 1999 I attended a 10 day outdoor music festival in County Cork, Ireland. It’s where I first saw John Cale who played five very different sets and I wished that I could acquire an album that reflected this artist’s eclectic musical nature, preferably in live performance. Well, here it is in the shape of a double album that covers a wide spectrum of Cale’s music. If you’re a Cale fan, you really do need this album.

I possess Cale’s studio albums but it is his ability to enthral live that this album truly captures. Opening and classic track Venus In Furs sounds brilliant with its superb, deathly sounding instrumental backdrop and Cale’s almost talking pace vocal. This rendition is heavily folk orientated and provides an outstanding album opener. Save Us takes on a very heavy rocky ambience with the thrashing drums and guitar providing the dominant sound, while Cale’s pleading vocal completes a dynamic live performance. Helen Of Troy sustains that rocky brilliance before the stuttered, pop vibe of Woman takes centre stage. The gentle folk song Buffalo Ballet wanders in followed by the glacial paced and haunting Femme Fatale/Funeral Rosegarden Of Sores which also boasts the most atmospheric ambience created by the deft work of Dustin Boyer (guitar), Joseph Karnes (bass) and Michael Jerome (drums). The remaining tracks on CD 1 are Hush, Outtathe Bag, Set Me Free, The Ballad Of Cable Hogue (a particularly special rendition), Look Horizon, Magritte, and Dirty Ass Rock And Roll. CD 2 opens with an especially funky rock version of Walking The Dog followed by one of the most interesting tracks here in Gun with its quite extraordinary percussive rhythm and scary vibe. Hanky Panky Nohow, Pablo Picasso/Mary Lou, Zen, Style It Takes, Heartbreak Hotel, Mercenaries (Ready For War), and couple of bizarre but breathtaking instrumental interludes complete a brilliant live album. CIRCUS LIVE is a pretty special collection of live performances by an artist that seems to get better with each passing year. Essential.

4.5/5