John Cale's fabled excursions in noise, melody and lyrical intrigue takes several inspired twists on this interim collection. Although it precedes his first solo album in seven years, 5 Track is a stand-alone experience which embraces sampled utopia and piquant longing ("Verses"), urban dislocation and wry comedy ("Waiting For Blonde"), international drug smuggling ("Wilderness Approaching") and the spectre of 9/11 ("Chains Of Dumpty"). Set in shifting and evocative soundscapes, these cerebral and cinematic compositions are a small step for Cale but cover more ground than most artists manage in their entire career.

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