John Cale”BLACK ACETATE”RATING: 3 VOLUME LEVELSJohn Cale’s…

John Cale

“BLACK ACETATE”

RATING: 3 VOLUME LEVELS

John Cale’s under no obligation to remain current. As a founding member of the Velvet Underground, producer of the Stooges and Patti Smith and acclaimed solo artist, his reputation precedes him and subsumes almost all else. But Cale’s latest, “Black Acetate,” reveals the legend’s been listening to a lot of hip-hop, plus ’90s stalwarts such as Beck and Nirvana. Yet Cale knows how to use these inspirations to his advantage, beginning with his falsetto delivery of the funky “Outta The Bag” through such stylishly disjointed exercises and the beats-and-guitar “Brotherman” and “Hush.”