- So the ol' Prince of Palace, Will Oldham, is back with a new record - his 20th studio record if you count 'em all, his 9th under the Bonnie B. moniker. It’s a record that seems like it is a natural progression for him, following his career.

First, it is of note that the record is a self-titled release and his first one to be self-titled, despite all of Oldham's monikers throughout his career as a musician. Everything on it was done by Oldham: from production to instrumentation and if you look at it from an ideological prospective it achieves all its goals as being a representation of Oldham in his purest form. All the tracks are built simply, on acoustic guitar and vocals. Lyrically it is also a very personal record, which is distinct from the way that Oldham refers to himself within the tracks and some of the song titles, both give that impression.

Like many of the people I know who tell stories at parties, they always start out good, then end horribly and you don't know whether to hug them or put them down and this record is the embodiment of that progression, beginning with the tender I Heard a Source that could have been the perfect credits track for a show such as Deadwood, possibly the most driving number on here. By the end however, the tale turns sour (in a good way) with the emotionally fuelled Royal Quiet Deluxe, a track documenting a drive down a highway to avoid a doomed relationship and then, eventually, death.

The tracks on here are also quite brief with all of them sitting between the two-and-a-half to three-minute-mark. That's not to say there is not a lot going on here. Obviously with the choice of instrumentation and song structure, lyrics are at the forefront and they're some of the best the Prince has done since I See a Darkness. Where 2011's Wolfroy Goes to Town lost its accessibility in uber-stylised presentation and delivery, this record is far more relatable to the modern day and contemporary situations, in the same way that I See a Darkness was such a good commentary on depression and the helplessness of the pursuit of love. A prime example of this is Ending it All (As I Do) which sounds as if it could have been a stripped down version of some of those tracks whilst it follows the narrative and flirts with the notion of a man committing suicide.

It's not all doom and gloom: some of Oldham's - almost - trademark humour is on here, paticularly The Spotted Pig which, even musically, is quite upbeat, as if Oldham wrote the song whilst wearing a romper suit with a stalk of wheat in his mouth looking out at a pig pen. The Bad Man is another track of note, encompassing the most aggressive delivery on the record as Oldham sings lines like "Mind your own business and stay seven feet back / Get any closer and I am bound to attack" over the top of a progressive, detuned guitar line and the faint sound of Oldham tapping along with his foot as he plays.

Today's recording software makes musical depth something comparatively simple to achieve and, initially, the notion of a record this sparse and simple, unable to hide behind technological wizardry, is daunting. But upon completing your first listen, it becomes apparent that this is a breath of fresh air, a record that reinforces and reminds you who Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is, while also showing you something new, making it a quintessential purchase to any fan.

- Brad Armstrong.