Bonnie “Prince” Billy

Will Oldham photographed by Nathan Salsburg

BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY, Lie Down in the Light

text by JEFF RIAN

Lie Down in the Light released by Domino Records

 

The singer/songwriter Will Oldham was born on Christmas Eve, 1970. From 1993 to 1997 he was instrumental to Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music, and since 1998, he has performed as Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Oldham has just released Lie Down in the Light, a country record accessible to a larger audience. It features duets with the Canadian singer Ashley Webber, backing vocal harmonies, and ensemble playing more developed than Oldham has been noted for in his 15-year musical career. The opening song, “Easy Does It,” introduces the tenor of openness that emanates from the entire record. Still present are the trademark upwardly reaching adenoidal voice, agonistic temperament, solipsism, wariness, hope, and quirkily hedging spiritualism. The cover art…