Live Review: John Cale

With the inaugural Supersense festival coming to a close, its crown jewel awaits. In a specially commissioned performance, underground icon John Cale has come together with Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance) and Laurel Halo to reinterpret material from The Velvet Underground and solo works.

From the moment we walk into the monolithic Hamer Hall it is clear that this performance will be special (as advertised) and from the first few notes it's apparent that this is no casual Sunday evening; things are going to get a little intense. The first thing to note is that the production values attached to this show are world class. The acoustics are wonderful, every note and nuance is audible and you can easily get lost in sound. While Cale is the clear leader, all musicians involved are wildly talented and a marvel to watch. With each track, a different configuration is often presented and Cale himself frequently switches from synth to violin to guitar. The songs on show here are completely different to their original manifestations, to the point where they're unrecognisable. The Velvet Underground staple I'm Waiting For The Man feels like a warped trip-hop remix of the original, while even recent(ish) Cale material such as Gravel Drive share little with their original source material.

Laurel Halo is one of the few members present onstage throughout the entire performance and it feels like her influence on the music is quite evident, with every track having that modern, high tech, electronica tinge on top. This at no point feels overbearing. Lisa Gerrard only makes two appearances throughout the evening (singing three songs) but, without a doubt, leaves a mark. Her voice simply inspires awe, as highlighted during the final moments of Cale's set when she ventures into an Eastern-flavoured improvisation over a backdrop of horns, strings and synths. Other highlights include Venus In Furs, during which with Cale's delivery is haunting and unsettling. For the same reasons, the reinterpretation of Paris 1919 retains the quirkiness of the original while being presented like a space opera.

This two-hour performance ends with a well-deserved standing ovation. Tonight's performance is something special; somewhat of a gamble that definitely pays off and will no doubt be talked about for some time to come.