Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is back but this time he has teamed up with The Cairo Gang to offer us an album assembled with riffs, and bits from Emmett Kelly's guitar and the lyricism of Bonny's heart.

The Wonder Show of the World is a very emotional album and the tracks produced almost sound live; it brings the listener closer to the songs and gives us that all important trust, which is what this new venture is all about. It shows off, in a plumage of bright colours, the fun and love that was put into the making of this album, which is shared with you and me.

Although all of the songs are slow in tempo, they have a naivety about them which makes you want to carry on listening. From the opener 'Troublesome Houses' right through to the final track, 'Kids', you hear such a pure and beautiful sound.

As ever the lyrics are quirky, as in 'With Cornstalks or Among Them' and 'Go Folks, Go' one line which stand out in particular is "Polish face and shave that shoe"'. One thing we will never tire of with this band are the lyrics as they are always on form.

I never know when I listen to Bonnie 'Prince' Billy whether I should be laughing or crying as the emotion in his music is strong yet some of the lyrics are just so quirky: "The smell of your box on my mustang..."

One of my favourite songs on this album is 'Where Wind Blows' it's a very emotional song, the instruments used throughout really tug at the heartstrings.

Not a fast paced party album but more your relaxing chilled CD full of emotionally charged pieces to keep you tuned in to some serious soul searching.

8

Helena Rea