The release of Life is People, Bill Fay’s first studio album in 40 years, represents the culmination of an increasingly exciting journey for the songwriter. The story of the forgotten music legend has become more and more common in recent years. However, so too has the resurgence of the under-appreciated songwriter.
Okkervil River recorded an entire album with 13th Floor Elevators frontman Roky Erickson, Gil Scott-Heron had a critically acclaimed comeback album, and Daniel Johnson is still a success story. In Fay’s instance, Jeff Tweedy and Wilco championed Fay’s importance, covering his work live. This encouragement and Fay’s onstage appearances perhaps led to the songwriter resuming work. In 2010, Fay’s first new songs were released, but were under-produced home recordings released by Copic Cat, David Tibet’s infamous label.
Now, Dead Oceans and Fay have brought the public an outstanding collection of songs by an important force that might otherwise have remained in obscurity. Life is People’s arrangements are structured primarily around Fay’s piano, though “Big Painter” and “City of Dreams” emerge as anomalies—dark, brooding, ambient tracks that offer a counterpoint to the mostly upbeat record. Often Fay recalls Wilco, especially so on “This World,” to which Jeff Tweedy lends vocals.
Of all the wonderful aspects of Life is People, the most vital lies in Fay’s earnest positivity and unabashed spirituality. Though Fay’s lyrics even directly invoke the Christian God once or twice, you still get the feeling that his concepts of the deity transcends our television culture concept of God. His spirituality comes from a deep and humble place and provides a soulful sense of hope for the listener. The gospel choir on “Be At Peace With Yourself” may be the highest point on the album.
Fay’s view of the complex world around him emerges on the album’s magnum opus, “Cosmic Concerto (Life is People)”. The lyrics sing the praises of our infinitely beautiful and amazing world and remind us that “life is people.” This message that provides the album’s title seems simple, but it’s something that we all forget and that gets lost amongst the jaded and glib attitudes of our chaotic culture. Fay’s heartfelt delivery comes from a man with decades of world experience, a man with nothing to lose, a man who after years of struggle still proudly places his hopes in humanity. More often than not, Bill Fay’s Life is People is as transcendent as his philosophy.
