Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy / Wolfroy Goes To Town

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
Wolfroy Goes to Town
(Domino)
* * * *

Will Oldham has been there and seen it all. From having a song covered by Johnny Cash, to doing the artwork for Slint on ‘Spiderland’ to training gorillas in Jackass, he can truly die a happy man.

Yet he still manages to add great records to his vast legacy, and ‘Wolfroy Goes to Town’ is no exception; it constitutes a sleepy walk along the lonesome, dusty roads of static folk and country.

Without breaking a sweat, raising his voice or even requiring drums for the most part, he creates an inspiring mood of hope. ‘Time to Be Clear’ and ‘New Whaling’ are as softly spoken as Nick Drake, with gentle guitar picking and elements of gospel.

Later, ‘Quail and Dumplings’ is a Gram Parsons-like romp with claps and electric piano cheering up what is essentially a song about starvation.

Indeed, the records best track ‘We Are Unhappy’ touches on desperation and suicide while remaining very calm, touching on the record’s true quality.