Bonnie Prince Billy - Ease Down The Road

  by Darrell Angus

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

---

Review

What can I say about the ever-prolific Will Oldham which hasn't already been said? As usual. his new album is a complete stunner, but is also easily his most joyous. Oldham's last full length 'I See A Darkness' held together the sparsest of arrangements and Oldham's trademark whispery vocals. It was almost heart wrenching in its style and execution. 'Ease Down The Road' sees Will, however, heading in a new direction. The production of the record is more fleshed out. Vocals and instrumentation don't compete with one another and the record sounds almost commercial radio-friendly (BTW It was recorded by Wills' brother Paul). The album is crammed with guest artists including Papa M's David Pajo, Freakwater's Catherine Irwin and filmmaker Harmony Korine. Considering the amount of contributions its easy to see why the album sounds fuller than past efforts. Songs like 'May It Always Be'and 'Just To See My Holly Home' (one of the standouts on the album) are comprised with multiple layers of guitar and piano and have a merry-like sound to them. 'Careless Love' and 'Grand Dark Feeling of Emptiness' are both emotionally soaring in their delivery. Lyrically, Oldham has always been intriguing. Some would say that obsessions with sex and death would be disturbing. Not so in Will' s case. His use of words and phrases are just another factor which make him one of the most foremost songwriters of this century. I think its time to crown the king.

Track Listing:-

1 May it always be
2 Careless love
3 A king at night
4 Just tosee my holy home
5 At break of day
6 After I made love to you
7 Ease down the road
8 The lion layer
9 Mrs William
10 Sheep

Band Links:-

http://royalstablemusic.com/

Label Links:-

http://www.dominorecordco.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DominoRecordC
https://twitter.com/DominoRecordCo
https://www.youtube.com/user/DominoRec
https://plus.google.com/+DominoRecords