Bonnie Prince Billy - The Letting Go
by Maarten Schiethart
published: 21 / 9 / 2006
Label:
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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) |
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