Slow Dazzle

• Artist: John Cale
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 25, 1975
• Genre: Rock

Review

Recording again with Phil Manzanera, along with noted journeyman guitarist Chris Spedding, Cale kept up the focus and amazing music on Slow Dazzle, easily the equal of Fear in terms of overall quality. With Brian Eno again helping out on synth work, Slow Dazzle comes across as a little more fried and unsettling than earlier work. Even the warm, epic lift of the chorus of "Mr. Wilson," very much a tribute to the Beach Boys' main man and one of the best he's ever received, is surrounded by strings and piano both lovely and paranoid. The more accurate tone of the record can be found in such numbers as "Dirty Ass Rock 'n' Roll," an intelligent, sly demolition of the lifestyle done to a glam-touched chug topped off with brass and backing singers, and even more dramatically with "Heartbreak Hotel." One of the most amazing cover versions ever, and arguably the best Elvis Presley revamp in existence, the slower pace, freaked-out Eno synth arrangement, and above all else Cale's chilling delivery make it a masterpiece. Then there's "Guts," which deserves notice for its low-key but still sharp feedback snarl and steady, cool rhythm, but perhaps has its best moment with Cale's gasped, killer starting lyric: "The bugger in the short sleeves f*cked my wife." For all of the stronger rock power, Cale's obviously not out to be pigeonholed, thus the calmer swing of many other numbers, like the great '50s rock tribute "Darling I Need You," featuring great guest sax from Andy Mackay, and the quick, almost sprightly "Ski Patrol." In terms of his own performance, Cale's voice again sounds marvelous, balanced perfectly between roughness and trained control, while his piano skills similarly find the connection between straightforward melodies and technical skill. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Mr. Wilson (Lyrics)	John Cale	John Cale	(3:17)
Talking It All Away	John Cale	John Cale	(2:59)
Dirty-Ass Rock 'N' Roll (Lyrics)	John Cale	John Cale	(4:44)
Darling I Need You (Lyrics)	John Cale	John Cale	(3:38)
Rollaroll	John Cale	John Cale	(3:59)
Heartbreak Hotel (Lyrics)	Elvis Presley, Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden	John Cale	(3:14)
Ski Patrol	John Cale	John Cale	(2:12)
I'm Not the Loving Kind	John Cale	John Cale	(3:12)
Guts (Lyrics)	John Cale	John Cale	(3:27)
The Jeweller	John Cale	John Cale	(5:07)

Credits

Geoff Muldaur (Vocals), Geoff Muldaur (Harmony), John Cale (Organ), John Cale (Bass), John Cale (Guitar), John Cale (Piano), John Cale (Arranger), John Cale (Keyboards), John Cale (Viola), John Cale (Vocals), John Cale (Clavinet), John Cale (Producer), John Cale (Main Performer), Phil Manzanera (Guitar), John Wood (Synthesizer), John Wood (Engineer), Chris Spedding (Guitar), Gerry Conway (Drums), Timi Donald (Drums), Pat Donaldson (Bass), Brian Eno (Keyboards), Victor Gamm (Engineer), Andy Mackay (Saxophone), Keith Smart (Drums), Eno (Synthesizer), Barry Sage (Assistant Engineer), Chris Thomas (Violin), Chris Thomas (Piano (Electric)), Michael Wade (Design)

• Genres: Rock

Biography

The side project of the Mendoza Line's Shannon McArdle and Timothy Bracy, Slow Dazzle shared the intimate songwriting of the duo's main band, but added a slightly harder-edged, rock-influenced spin to its sound. Inspired by singer/songwriter teams like Richard and Linda Thompson and John Cale and Nico, Slow Dazzle recorded their debut, The View From the Floor, in a New York City loft. After The View From the Floor's release in spring 2005, McArdle and Bracy toured that summer and began planning their second Slow Dazzle album while gearing up for the release of that year's Mendoza Line album. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

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