Album review: Bill Callahan

Published on 10/04/2009 16:54

Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle *** Drag City DC385, £11.74

WHEN you possess a voice as well fermented as Smog's Callahan, there must be a temptation to sing the phone book and luxuriate in those honeyed tones. Songs such as 'Too Many Birds' suggest he has succumbed to that temptation, because as lovely as the staggered repetitive phrasing may be, the lyric is lazy and limp.

'All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast' benefits hugely from lovely instrumental dynamics, coaxing similarly vivacious vocals out of stone-faced Bill. The closing 'Faith/Void' is a powerful ultimate redeemer.

• Download this: Faith/Void, All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast