Fear is a pivotal album in John Cale's extensive career, originally released in October 1974. This reissue faithfully replicates the original 1974 Island Records UK release and is pressed onto high-quality 180g vinyl. The album marked Cale's return to recording in London after nearly a decade in America. Collaborating with Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno, Cale returned to a rawer sound reminiscent of his earlier work, departing from the lush textures of his previous studio album, Paris 1919. The album features a blend of tense, clipped tracks like "Fear Is A Man's Best Friend" and "Gun," as well as the sweetness of "Buffalo Ballet" and the Beach Boys homage "The Man Who Couldn't Afford To Orgy." The semi-autobiographical "Ship Of Fools" offers listeners a glimpse into Cale's Welsh roots. In its often-skeletal simplicity, Fear is an album that brought angular aggression back into Cale's music.