Music > Album Reviews

Matt Sweeney & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Superwolves

20/05/21

Superwolves is the second album to be released by this collaborative duo, a follow up to their debut offering 2005’s Superwolf. The pair initially started working on it five years ago remotely in their own spaces, building the songs in their own style and then met up to pool their collective works and bring it all to life.

I have got to say that this is not quite what I was expecting at all as I remember well Will Oldham’s earlier recordings as The Palace Bros and I also missed the debut album altogether but you cannot help but take an instant liking to the opening track, Make Worry For Me with its bluesy guitar. As soon as it starts up it grabs you right by the balls. It really reminds me of Ben Watt’s (Everything But The Girl) Hendra album that featured the amazing guitar legend, Bernard Butler. At times it’s not the most exciting album you will ever hear, but as with Butler’s collaboration on said album it works with both Sweeney and Billy really pulling it off - there is certainly no denying their quality of musicianship. These guys are pros in every sense of the word. It’s a very unique and cool collaboration. It is such a grower!

Hall Of Death is without doubt the standout track, with its blistering guitar which is totally stunning (hence the previous BB reference). It is damn crazy and is accompanied by a madcap video too, check it out! It features two balaclava cladded children stealing a Toyota Land Cruiser and heading straight to the coast,driving frantically along the way down some remote dirt tracks. The driver, smoking away complete with eye patch, scarily speeds out down the said tracks while the other child rolls around the boot floor with a case full of fireworks, sweets and a pistol, axe in hand! It’s both chaotic and mad but it also works well and certainly brings the song to life. Wow that guitar!

The amazing and blistering lead guitar playing that I allude to is courtesy of Mahamadou Souleymane, professionally known as Mdou Moctar, a Tuareg musician and songwriter of Nigerian descent. He is seriously good, let me tell you.

So do check this album out as there really are some very fine moments indeed. It’s like being on a rollercoaster ride as it cruises along with some mood filling moments and then all of a sudden it is heading up the steep hill and back down on the other side at 200mph!

Seriously now, if you want something new to listen to, look no further. I can only begin to imagine the torture that followers and fans have been through during the past 16 years since their debut judging by the adoration and outpouring of respect across the internet for this pair!

7/10

Superwolves was released digitally in April but will be released physically on July 16th 2021.