Labels: Drag City
Review by: Chris Bress
Personally the last couple of Will Oldham releases have left me a bit cold, so cold in fact that I didn’t buy them and nearly couldn’t even be bothered to check this out. After hearing the great “bed is for sleeping” track I knew I had to delve into this record.
And, it’s certainly a return to form. It sounds much more like the Palace records, maybe it’s the inclusion of Zwan’s Matt Sweeny, who knows? But his guitar work, and I think he may have actually written all the music, is top notch. From country-rock guitar solos to Iron and Wine style lo-fi finger picking.
The slight nautical feeling to the record, from the two references in song titles and the Carrie / Evil Dead style cover of what seems to be a bloody hand rising out of the sea is always a bonus. Plus it’ll make it a great partner to the newest Nils Okland cd.
“Blood Embrace”, although not the strongest song on the record, is my favourite. With its rolling chords and Will’s beautiful ramblings washing over you maybe you too will dig it.