Description

Final Statement in John Cales Island Trilogy Bristles With Fascinating Eclecticism and Cohesive Atmosphere: Phil Collins, Brian Eno, and Chris Spedding Among Contributors

1975s Helen of Troy Includes Modern Lovers Cover and Controversial Leaving It Up to You: Wax Cathedral LP Cut at Mobile Fidelity By In-House Engineer Krieg Wunderlich

To his chagrin, John Cales record label released his unfinished demo tapes while he was busy producing Patti Smiths groundbreaking Horses. But to his surprise, the resulting album, Helen of Troy, is considered the most stylistically cohesive of the eclectic Island Trilogy, the trio of albums Cale recorded for Island Records during the course of 1974-75. Featuring Brian Enos lithe synthesizer, Phil Collins expert drumming, and Cales manic streetwise songwriting, Helen of Troy delivers more sophistication than most final cuts, and cuts deeper in its roughness.

Back on domestic vinyl for the first time in decades, this RTI-pressed edition of Helen of Troy is cut at Mobile Fidelity by in-house engineer Krieg Wunderlich and features stunning sonics. Quiet surfaces, faithful artwork, and the opportunity to hear Cales engaging fare unfold amidst wide soundstages and black backgroundsnot to mention the moody content withinmake this Wax Cathedral LP a must for music aficionados.

From the celestial opening strains of My Maria, which sounds in places like a hymn, to the teeth-gnashing Sudden Death, Cale shows us heaven, hell, and the life in between. Employing a cocktail of wild experimentation, tonal versatility, and range of emotion, Cales compositions whip from soaring serenades like I Keep a Close Watch to the unhinged, wild-eyed Leaving It Up to You (pulled from the original release due to its reference to the murder of Sharon Tate) to the soulful, surf-derived China Sea. Enos synthesizer casts love spells and shadows while Chris Speddings guitar drills bluesy, ragged holes through every composition. A tormented, sinister cover of the Modern Lovers Pablo Picasso (Cale produced the Lovers debut) shows what you get when you replace Jonathan Richmans dreamy smile with Cales bared teeth.

Although well never know what the one-time Velvet Underground cohort had in mind for the finished product, with its labyrinthine arrangements, theatrical spontaneity, and primal rawness, Helen of Troy is a gem thats better unpolished.