Bonnie "Prince" Billy Letting Go on New Album

Will Oldham's veil of secrecy has been lifted just a tiny bit, revealing a shaggy beard, piercing blue eyes, and details of the new Bonnie "Prince" Billy album. Then the Letting Go, recorded in Iceland last winter with Bj・k producer Valgeir Sigurdsson, is due out September 18 on Domino in the UK, and in the U.S. the following day courtesy of Drag City.
The album includes backing vocals from Dawn "The Faun" McCarthy of Drag City labelmates Faun Fables, bass from Billy's brother Paul Oldham, guitar riffs from Emmett Kelly (the Cairo Gang), and percussion from the Dirty Three's Jim White.
Then the Letting Go will be preceded by the single for "Cursed Sleep", due July 24 in the UK (Domino) and July 25 in the U.S. (Drag City) in both CD and 12" formats. The former will include a video. "Cursed Sleep" is backed by two non-album tracks.
Another single, "Cold and Wet", will come out November 13 on Domino in the UK and November 14 on Drag City.
As previously reported, Oldham is set to play two gigs at New York's Joe's Pub on August 5. The stint is in celebration of the Brooklyn Fire Proof gallery's "FOLK" installation, and will see Oldham sharing the stage with folk legend Hazel Dickens.
The venue website claims Oldham will focus both sets on "traditional music," playing alongside his other brother, Ned (aka Captain Anomoanon). Non-NYC residents itching to hear some new tunes can catch Oldham doing free instore and radio performances this August around the Midwest, according to Drag City. The label also reports that "he's working on videos as well as at least a dozen other things," so stay tuned a dozen times.
Also, according to various reports, the company Kino International has picked up the acclaimed indie film Old Joy, which stars Oldham, for distribution in the U.S. and Canada. So people who don't go to film festivals might actually have the chance to see it sometime soon.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy: http://www.bonnieprincebilly.com/
Drag City: http://www.dragcity.com/
Domino: http://www.dominorecordco.com/