Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: Lie Down In The Light

Label: Drag City

Like 2006’s The Letting Go, Will Oldham¹s most recent effort as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy is a slow, spare ramble; here, his song structures are even more extended, with sonics focused squarely on the vocal interplay between Oldham and his duet partner, Ashley Webber of Canada’s The Organ (and sister to Black Mountain’s Amber). Webber’s dark smolder of a voice is a beautiful counterpoint to Oldham’s warble, and the songs¹ meander allow us plenty of time to luxuriate in the loveliness. Though sonically joyous to the point of buoyancy, Lie Down In The Light nevertheless includes Oldham’s trademark darkly quixotic lyrics: epic opener “Easy Does It” presents alternates hopeful and disturbing nature-vignettes, “So Everyone” is an ode to true love expressed via public oral sex, and “You Want That Picture” looks forward to death to end the pain of heartbreak. Sure to be a favorite among Oldham’s current fans, Lie Down in the Light is also a tremendous introduction for new listeners to one of the most talented songwriters of the past few decades. (Anna)