Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Bonnie Prince Billy - Blue Lotus Feet EP



This Oldham guy has churned out many remarkable EPs, many remarkable (and some not-so-remarkable) LPs and many an envy-inspiring moment with keen, heart-tugging couplet n such. So, simply, he's a fan favorite of thou here in the Roxx Shire and the glaring absence of him in these nether regions has its one reason. This EP circumvents said (not said) reason, and thankfully allows for worldly distribution and the sharing or foisting of what are miraculous songs in an nonmiraculous time, made by largely nonmiraculous people.

The One With The Birds/South Side Of The World 7" lyrically, sentimentally, gut-wise stands up to the best... I can't draw the proper comparison. Something from Drake, Cohen, Dylan... not sure. It's flawless. Birds especially is a close favorite, at once dry and witty and sincere and sweet. That's like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup of music, dig? I list it in my top 20 of my stupid life.
Southside of the World is a gospel number with no end. Lumbering and sanctimonious but a compelling tale, nonetheless. Makes you feel good about all the shit and ugliness in your life. Builds character, no? A hymn for diversity and experience... Huzzah for our differences.

give me donkey ears !

give me honkey tears !

give me black blood !

and that of queers !

to mix with my own



The flipside has Oldham churning out some really lovely versions of some Krishna Klassics. Little hummable mantras to keep with you breakfast to your nightly pre-bed silver haze schvitz. The titles track is especially endearing.

All of this B-side is raw, simple, unprocessed and like it's cousin A-side awash in that warm stuff that drew us to this real music stuff anyways.

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Wikipedia: Blue Lotus Feet is the name of a Bonnie 'Prince' Billy EP released on UK record label Domino Records in 1998. It consists of the "One with the Birds" / "Southside of the World" single (previously released on Palace Records in the U.S. the same year), as well as five Hare Krishna songs, first performed live by Oldham during a session for VPRO's "De Avonden" broadcast on Dutch radio on 15 October 1998. The English translation of the krishnas is taken from "Cosmic Chants" by Paramahansa Yogananda, as originally sung and recorded by the Monks Of The Self-Realization Order.

HEAR


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This post itself is a peanut butter cup.

Arlopop

JimSchu said...

Good stuff. Thanks for posting. I like to think of myself as an avid Oldham fan but had never heard any of this

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