John Cale announces first new album in a decade featuring Weyes Blood, Animal Collective and more

19 October 2022, 15:11 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(John Cale)

John Cale has announced his first album of new material in a decade, MERCY, and it features collaborations with Weyes Blood, Animal Collective and others.

As well as announcing MERCY today (19 October), Cale has delivered the lead single from the record, which is titled "STORY OF BLOOD" and features Weyes Blood. The new single is teamed with a video directed by Emmy winner Jethro Waters.

Cale says of the collaboration, "I’d been listening to Weyes Blood’s latest record and remembered Natalie’s puritanical vocals. I thought if I could get her to come and sing with me on the "Swing your soul" section, and a few other harmonies, it would be beautiful. What I got from her was something else! Once I understood the versatility in her voice, it was as if I’d written the song with her in mind all along. Her range and fearless approach to tonality was an unexpected surprise. There’s even a little passage in there where she’s a dead-ringer for Nico."

MERCY is Cale's first album of all-new material since 2012's Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood, and will include other appearances from Animal Collective, Actress, Tei Shi, Sylvan Esso, Fat White Family and Laurel Halo. The album will also feature Cale's August single "NIGHT CRAWLING".

Tracklist:

MERCY (feat. Laurel Halo)
MARILYN MONROE’S LEG (beauty elsewhere) (feat. Actress)
NOISE OF YOU
STORY OF BLOOD (feat. Weyes Blood)
TIME STANDS STILL (feat. Sylvan Esso)
MOONSTRUCK (Nico’s Song)
EVERLASTING DAYS (feat. Animal Collective)
NIGHT CRAWLING
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD
THE LEGAL STATUS OF ICE (feat. Fat White Family)
I KNOW YOU’RE HAPPY (feat. Tei Shi)
OUT YOUR WINDOW

"STORY OF BLOOD" featuring Weyes Blood is out now. John Cale's MERCY album will arrive via Double Six / Domino on 20 January 2023, and is available to pre-order now.