Review: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - "Lie Down in the Light"

It has been about 21 years since Will Oldham co-starred in the classic film Matewan, which details a 1920s coal-miners' strike in West Virginia, but nevertheless, on his superb new musical release under his familiar moniker, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, it seems as though little has changed from this early influence on this work.

Like a black and white photograph, "Lie Down in the Light" (Drag City, Palace Records), Oldham's first studio release of original songs since 2006, again carries us through the dust, the smoke and the peril of a spiritual Appalachia. However, unlike Oldham's earlier classic, "I See a Darkness," "Lie Down in the Light" is more of a mature voice leading through and from the darkness to, well, into the light. Oldham has grown up from the young preacher he depicts in Matewan, to become a wiser spiritual philosopher, depicting a man who has learned from his experiences and has grown from his past musical collaborations as a songwriter.

Like most Bonnie 'Prince' Billy records, Oldham is again accompanied by a list of talented veteran musicians who add a professional clarity and assuredness to Oldham's fantastic, almost implausible tenor. Never fear though, even with an orderly produced sound, "Lie Down in the Light" remains remarkably faithful to Oldham's lo-fi roots.

To come clean, "Lie Down in the Light" is an indie folk album, one full of vocal harmonies, acoustic guitars and warm Nashville twang, with only the smallest bit of percussion to beat. In addition, however, there are also wonderful moments of electric guitar solos and horns in these tunes, cleverly serving as precise evolutionary functions, helping to shift away from the slow inaugural air of some songs. But mainly, "Lie Down in the Light" is simply beautiful, soulful and quiet, with a flicker of unique excitement out of each piece helping to avoid monotony.

Obviously, this album can be rather melancholy and even disturbing at times, because of Oldham's explicit lyrical maturity and humanism, but what moves you through these songs is the potential for a musical crescendo or moment. A moment where the musicians, Oldham and his words figure something out: a type of musical epiphany, which they then realize for one sweet moment, recognize it, smile, and fade away. This is ever so evident on the third track "So Everyone," which build and grows to a fruition of perfectly produced instruments and harmonies, and Oldham, in beautiful juxtaposition, singing, "...Oh lady, show how you want me. And do it so everyone sees me. Sees that you love me."

In other words, "Lie Down in the Light" is a great album to impress chicks (joke).

Disco,

km

Notable tracks for stealing: "Easy Does It," "So Everyone," "You Want that Picture" and "I'll be Glad".

(Drag City - Loose Fur, Stereolab, Silver Jews, smog, Joanna Newsom, Mick Turner)