Will Oldham is so prolific these days that a new BPB release of some sort seems to arrive every few months, but a collection of brand new songs is still something to get excited about and I played this several times back to back as soon as it arrived.
The popular line here seems to be that last year's 'Lie Down In The Light' was a "happy" album and that 'Beware' is back to the gloom and doom. Oldham has never been as straightforward an artist as that. While 'Lie Down In The Light' was certainly a collection of largely optimistic songs, it also contained tracks like 'You Want That Picture', a song that truly stopped me in my tracks. A duet between a couple on the verge of breaking up, it was a desperately lonely and touching song, culminating in Oldham singing "..I went outside/ and I looked at the sky and knew someday I'd die/ and everything would be alright...everything comes down to this..". Just stunning.
..and whilst 'Beware' seems largely to be an album warning of the dangers of love, it is not without its humour. 'You don't love me' for example is a country romp with lines such as "...you say my kissing rates a 6". Also, whilst the lyrics in 'Beware' are dark, this is a gorgeous, rich sounding record with plenty of strings, flute and glockenspiel as well as backing harmonies.
There are some amazing songs here. The Nashville-styled 'I Don't Belong To Anyone', lonely, pretty but like much of this record, truly comforting. Oldham's voice is soft and warm even when he sings the album's classic opening lines.. "I want to be your only friend..is that scary?". My favourite though is the penultimate 'Without Work, You Have Nothing', to a VERY similar tune to Jerome Kern's 'The Way You Look Tonight', Oldham sings that despite any of the relationship-issues he has described throughout the album, we will all be alright and "arms will hold you". There are strong reiligious tones on this track but even the most certain non-believer will find comfort when the Prince sings "you will die with love upon you".
This is a really consistent, rewarding piece of work. The lyrics are certainly dark and sometimes uneasy but as a listening experience this is beautiful, rich and warm. A fine, fine album from one of the most special artists of our time.
9.2
['Beware' is out now on cd/lp from Drag City/ Domino]
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