Bonnie Prince Billy - The Letting Go
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 21 / 9 / 2006
Label:
Select Label
Format: CD
intro
Excellent and surprisingly hopeful new album about upbringing, love and disappointment, recorded in Reykjavik in Iceland, by epic balladeer Will Oldham, under his now regular nom de plume of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Why oh why does Neil Young still bother to put out new albums? 'The Letting Go' is such a superior album. Will Oldham, him of Palace Brothers fame but now performing under the moniker of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, went to Reykjavik, Iceland to record this with his band yet many local guest appearances are also included. Epic balladeer Oldham, who as a lyricist never will challenge Leonard Cohen, does, however, manage to make words and music melt into one album of sheerbeauty. The small genius of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy now is in the editing, as inspired by modern computer technology, stripping tracks down totheir bare essentials. It is a post-marital album about upbringing, love and disappointment yet rather than sounding resentful, our Bonnie adds a touch of hope and inspiration. The newly surfacing fragility to Oldham's voice contributes to the sense of 'The Letting Go'. A menopause album if there ever was one And a fabulous one at that it must be acknowledged.
Track Listing:-
1 Love Comes To Me2 Strange Form Of Life
3 Wai
4 Cursed Sleep
5 No Bad News
6 Cold & Wet
7 Big Friday
8 Lay And Love
9 The Seedling
10 Then The Letting Go
11 God's Small Song
12 I Called You Back
13 Ebb Tide
Band Links:-
http://royalstablemusic.com/
live reviews |
|
Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 4/8/2010 |
|
| Chris O' Toole wonders if Bonnie Prince Billy's long period of creative energy has finally come to an end after watching a sluggish show with the Cairo Gang at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London |
| Babylon, Ottawa, 27/8/2003 |
reviews |
|
Wolfroy Goes to Town (2011) |
|
| Unflatteringly-titled and covered, but heartbreaking and profoundly moving latest album from Bonnie Prince Billy, which proves to be one of his greatest works |
| Beware (2009) |
| Cold and Wet (2007) |
| Ease Down The Road (2001) |
most viewed articles
current edition
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.Dennis Tufano - Copernicus Center, Chicago, 19/7/2024
Elliott Murphy - Interview
Wreckless Eric - Interview
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #16: Living in the Minds of Strangers
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #17: Tom Robinson
Adrian Gurvitz - Interview
Norman Rodger - Interview
Chris Spedding - Interview
Penumbra - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Groovy Uncle - Making ExcusesPhilip Parfitt - The Dark Light
Jules Winchester - The Journey
Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks
Bill Wyman - Drive My Car
Ross Couper Band - The Homeroad
Deep Purple - =1
Popstar - Obscene
John Murry and Michael Timmins - A Little Bit of Grace and Decay
Splashgirl and Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe - More Human
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart