PAN M 360 / TOP 100 : John Cale – Mercy

Over the past few weeks, our most active record reviewers have had the task of choosing their 5 favorite recordings of 2023, and here they are. This selection is unique and quite different of all you can find on the web or through traditional medias.

At 81 years old, John Cale is still able to surprise himself and his listeners, and Mercy, his 17th album may be one of his most experimental and hallucinogenic albums yet. No one expected a new album from the Velvet Underground alumni, but damn does this one deliver. At times it’s shimmery and wet with neon-tinged paint, others it’s a crepuscular mass that dabbles in goth rock, hip hop, and every form of the word “art.” On Mercy, John Cale, acting as the mad composer, also collaborates with some of the newer upcoming artists who have had him to thank for their shifting sounds; Sylvan Esso, Weyes Blood, Laurel Halo, and Fat White Family. Stacked up against Cale’s own career and any other albums coming from stalwart artists in the experimental/out-there genres, Mercy will continue to shine as a dim star. Hopefully, this isn’t his Blackstar but if he did decide to retire and retreat, Mercy would be a fantastic send-off.  

To see the complete list, click here!