The Melancholy Prince
With such an understanding of how to make a song from the soul, Bonnie Prince Billy may well break your heart from the very outset of its orchestral opening that bleeds through the speakers like an audio drama. There is a light up in its lofty heights of airy guitars and wavering vocal backing, but this warm feel in the music is filtered with a sadness unfathomable, choking any notion that 'The Letting Go' could be an easy and predictable ride. It might be painfully close to his previous selections, but standing on its own, the album is a territory worthy of exploring.
There are admitted themes within songs. Take 'Strange Form of Life', as it drags its heels through the dirt and desolation, treading on down a descent of melancholy emotion, with this aforementioned angelic female backing as the only form of company. The clicking of a block remains constant in the background and an overall sense of degradation and loss looms; and the lyrics stamp down this feel even further as the tale of love and longing haunts over the music. Sung with a sometimes croaked voice, Bonny Prince Billy always rips his heart out and lays it on the feasting table.
Later, 'Cold and Wet' is one of the more bluesy numbers that again holds no drumming accompaniment and is one to put on when you hit your head on the bedposts, get up and miss the bowl, tear a new hole in your old trousers, put the shoes on the wrong feet and then wake up again in bed, two hours late for your dead-end job in town. Many would probably guess this to be a weak track in the middle of the album and they may be right, but a burning endearment will surely push this song – and others like folk-filled 'Then the Letting Go' and third track 'Wai' – through into your acknowledgement...
But if you want instant favourites, this would be the broken-speaker machine anthem (check the drumming and you'll understand), 'Lay and Love'. The permanent female harmony, the slow build and interesting guitar picked parts that simmer over the scratched electro percussion are enough to make you trance out. And as you are becoming accustomed to the lo-key ramble, 'Seedling' then shakes the calm down from its roots with louder, higher ranged vocals, mystical wordings, powerful orchestral use and - shock and surprise! - a full drum kit. Oooh!
Throughout there is a true ambience to the album - a natural beauty. With an almost Celtic feel for folk and a homing device permanently set onto a Blues of sorts, Nick Drake could also be included somewhere in this man's exquisite equation. The combination isn't too jolly but is attractive to the listener with something to express and with an ear that begs for misuse.
If your heart hurts, soothe it.