Search - Will Oldham :: Western Music

Excellent rarity by Will Oldham of Palace with Dirty Three

Michael Clark | Detroit, Michigan | 03/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Keeping up with Will Oldham's complete output can be a very hard task. He has always mixed releases between albums with the shorter formats of the 7" and EP, producing a healthy amount of material in between his full-length releases. However, seeking out the 7" and EP formats can be rewarding, as the material often matches, and occasionally surpasses the quality of his albums. The 4 Track Western Music EP is a very hard to find title released in very limited edition by the combined forces of two labels out of Spain (Acurela and Ovni) in 1988. Coming from a variety of sessions. Two tracks are solo Oldham, while Mick Turner and Jim White of the Dirty Three and former Gastr del Sol member David Grubbs play anonymous roles elsewhere. On nearly every song, Oldham approaches the level of his best work. "Always Bathing in the Evening" is perfect for dark bedroom listening. "Wade in/Wade in," he sings, as voices in the distance chime in with "Blowing/Jump in/Waiting/Jump in." While there is little lyrical matter to speak of, it sounds fantastic. On "Three Photographs" Oldham is an intriguing, fragmentary story told through pictures. Over the most rudimentary, lo-fi guitar strum. Other track is "Western Song For J.L.L" his another fine outing, bringing to mind some of the material he would later release as Bonnie Prince Billie. Western Music came during a particularly prolific time for Oldham (during the Joya period) and was very hard to find even when in print. Only the best indie stores in the world were able to get them in and they were all pretty quickly gobbled up."