This 2 disc set features 3 albums that John Cale had done for the Island records label in the years of 1974/75 and the music featured therein is a varied mix of sparse beauty, melodic dissonance, odd chord progressions, good time rock music and originality that can only be claimed by Mr. Cale himself. As a former member and founder of the Velvet Underground, Cale's solo career began not much longer after he left the band amicably in mid-1968 after the release of White Light/White Heat and his first releases were a conventional(by Cale's standards!) solo piece in Vintage Violence and a more classical/avant garde collaboration with artist Terry Riley known as Church of Anthrax.

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This particular collection focuses on the records Fear, Slow Dazzle and Helen of Troy which were made with inputs from then, Roxy Music members Phil Manzanera and particularly, Brian Eno. The latter album, Helen of Troy, was considered by Cale to be an unfinished album only for the Island to release it without his proper approval, while he was on tour. Nonetheless, the record shares its progression and style with the previous two releases and particular songs of interest on this overall collection run the gamut of Cale's tastes and musical interpretations. Such examples of material include: Buffalo Ballet, You Know More than I Know, the darker and quirkier aspects of Gun, Momamma Scuba and Helen of Troy to gut rockers like Dirty A** Rock and Roll, Pablo Picasso and Mary Lou as well as shades of his Velvet Underground days with numbers in The Jeweller(a spoken word instrumental mood piece) and The Man Who Couldn't Afford to Orgy. His cover of Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel makes for an interesting take on the old school rock number in that the arrangement given is very much an original interpretation, offering a dark bend within its rhythmic style and sparse, yet intense delivery.

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Cale's style diversifies the other side of the Velvet axis as a cross-cut between himself and his more famous partner, Lou Reed and although his singing voice is an acquired taste, as well as his musical approach, John's talents as a writer and performer are very much a splendid insight into his wealth as an innovative and original artist. I feel that this collection succeeds in bringing these various aspects to light and is a great starting point for anyone whom wants to delve into his catalog of material. I just revisited this set last night and its testimony to this review that you are now reading before you. Is this collection worth the price? Absolutely. Check it out.

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Rating Grade- A+