The American group Tortoise can be seen as one of the architects of post rock, with instrumental records organically blending rock, avant-garde, film scores and electronic music. Daring is the combination that the band enters into with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy or Will Oldham, the American singer / songwriter who keeps American folk traditions alive with singing voice, in minimally instrumented songs
… about death and incest. This cover record could have been a joke, even if you see titles like Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen), That's Pep (Devo) and Daniel (Elton John) on the cover in advance. But it is especially in this last song where both parties come into their own: a lazy and dirty distorted groove about which Oldham draws long and melancholy complaints about lost brother Daniel. He is not always faithful to the original melody and thus makes Thunder Road, for example, an exciting story that would not have been out of place on one of his own records. An original album that will delight lovers of Tortoise as well as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. (MR)more
