Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

When did I buy my last Bonnie 'Prince' Billy album? I have no clue. My best guess is about ten years ago. Enter Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You. An interesting interview in the music magazine I read, 'Oor' and rumours of good reviews made me turn to Spotify. Since the album is on heavy repeat. Nothing has changed, really, to quote a well-known commercial from decades ago and yet the quality is beyond reproach.

Will Oldham is making the music where he's so good in. The setting is literally a living room but figuratively as well. The music is bare to the bone. Oldham's voice and, I suppose, his guitar are the start of every song. He invited friends and acquaintances to visit and contribute.

The one who jumps out is the voice of Dane Waters. She is what Emmylou Harris was to Gram Parsons and Bob Dylan a long time ago on this album. Her voice weaves itself around Oldham's. According to the interview, they never, at least for the recording of this album, sang together in the traditional way. She took Oldham's recording and started to fill in her own parts, taking control of what would happen next. The result is paying off alright.

The same goes for all the other contributions. All came in and contributed to what was already on tape. Apparently this way of working was a revelation to Oldham. Strings, keyboard, a mandoline and a saxophone can be found on the album. Sometimes even just a few notes accompanying the guitar. While in 'Trees Of Hell' the violins take precedence.

Musically the album is somewhere between folk and country, singer-songwriter is another term often used. From my point of view Will Oldham is a songsmith. He crafts songs like an artisan would make traditional products. He is part of a long traditions of bards. His lyrics are mostly poems, not to be recognised as part of something personal. Yet, I can see him playing at a court to Medieval kings. His music fits the bill.

What convinces me concerning Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You, is, besides the obvious quality of the songs, the delivery. In all the modesty in which the songs are presented, there is a sure-fire conviction that the songs are good. This is what modest conviction sounds like to me. Oldham does not falter and shows that his new album does not need more than what we hear. Enough is enough and less so much more. Was I surprised? Yes, but then I learned that almost every artist at some point returns in my life with a new album that makes that difference. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is an addition to that long list.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You here:

https://bonnieprincebilly.bandcamp.com/album/keeping-secrets-will-destroy-you