Live reviews

Berlin 2004-02-08

Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany
Review by Einar Stenseng

John Cale performed live music to avantgarde filmmaker C.S. Leigh's new movie, Process, in Berlin's Haus der Kulturen der Welt on Sunday February 8th. The screening of the movie was in conjunction with the Berlinale International Film Festival.

Cale sat on stage, in front of the big screen, surrounded by television monitors showing different close-ups of his face singing and speaking. On the sides of the big screen (showing the actual movie) were also two smaller screens; one showing buildings being bombed (as seen from the bombing airplane), another showing yet a close-up of Cale.

Most of the music (which I presume was also composed and performed (piano) by Cale) was on playback. Cale only added a bit of synthesizer, some breathing, screaming, reciting, singing (bits of "Over Her Head") and, at the very end of the movie, some gorgeous, loud noise generated with an electric guitar.