Bonnie Prince Billy With Harem Scarem & Alex Neilson

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

4...according to our Brett on Fri 17 Oct, 2008.

Right, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy with Harem Scarem and Alex Neilson - Is It The Sea? This'll be a quick one since it's a live album and they tend to only be of much interest to those who are fans already. Old Willie Facefluff puts thirteen tracks from his extensive back catalogue through their paces with a much fuller sound to his voice than you tend to get on the studio albums, it's almost unrecognisable actually. Brian reckons he might have been getting laid around the time this was recorded. With this band the songs take a massive turn for the fiddle, it's like the soundtrack to the saddest barndance in history. Good stuff as far as live albums go, it's always interesting to hear old songs when they're done in a style that's that little bit different..

‘Is It The Sea?’ captures performances from the Bonnie Prince’s sold out tour of Scotland and Ireland in the Spring of 2006. The tour found Billy in the company of Edinburgh’s Harem Scarem on close harmonies, fiddle, flute, banjo and accordion and Glasgow’s Alex Neilson on drums and percussion.
For this tour Bonnie reached deep into his catalogue to produce a set long on magic and high on drama. ‘Is It The Sea?’ captures Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy in unique surroundings deep in the midst of some of Scotland’s most adventurous traditional players.
Followers and watchers of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, whether Palace veterans or the newly converted, will know never to second guess what they’re about to hear on record or on stage when they see the BPB name.
‘Is It The Sea?’ adds another layer of depth to one of the most beguiling catalogues in modern music; a recorded moment that finds Bonny ‘Prince’ Billy at the height of his powers, reveling in his songs and his surroundings. ‘Is It the Sea?’ is available on CD, heavyweight double vinyl

Be the first to review this record. Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!