Our Classic Album series revisits must-have albums from the '60s and '70s that are as vital today as when they were first released.
Wales Art Review JANUARY 20, 2019 - by Gray Taylor
Paris 1919
Who is he? When was the photograph of him taken? The front cover of John Cale’s 1973 opus, Paris 1919, brings forth a barrage of meaningful questions before you’ve even heard a note of music.
A genius among us. Or is he the Artful Dodger? The music on this album certainly defies normal generic categorisation. Cale’s former bandmate, Lou Reed, released a similarly brave and stunning statement of intent for rock writing the same year, a complex study of people being generally awful to one another, entitled Berlin. Paris 1919 contains a much brighter feel than Berlin, but in fact, it takes up a quasi-religious feel in part.
The music is certainly mostly positive and welcoming throughout; uplifting even. So uplifting that it’s easy to forget that much of the religious imagery melded to the innocence of childhood may be a reference to Cale suffering abuse as a child at the hands of a priest. There is certainly a sense of fear in some of the lyrics and music herein. Musically, though, this might well be Cale’s most accessible achievement.
With ‘Macbeth’ being a perfect glam rock stomper and ‘Graham Greene’ almost reaching a reggae skank. A long way from the avant-rock of La Monte Young or even the Velvet’s first album. The music on this album diversifies so effortlessly between classical, rock, avant-garde and pop that it could be argued that its influence has been felt as equally as any Velvets record, in that it frees the artist to express himself in any way they see fit or can accomplish. But, also, it takes that journey completely seriously and has been copied over the years by much more monetarily successful and completely humourless pop stars.
Cale’s album is brimming with humour and intellectualism being aware of one another, with neither being the exclusive drive of the artist. Paris 1919 could be the greatest Welsh rock album ever made because it lives and breathes Wales. Intellectual and proud but self-aware and full of humour, brave and determined to travel and explore, a pilgrim of our green and pleasant lands.
Paris 1919 is available on vinyl in the Store