Justin Vernon’s project Bon Iver has been at the helm of indietronica and folk music for me and so many others for years now.
Whether it be the despondent echoes of For Emma, Forever Ago, lush instrumentation and world-building on Bon Iver, Bon Iver or even abrasive electronic layering on 22, A Million, Vernon has remained curious and unpredictable for each release and this new EP SABLE, is an intricately intriguing addition to the virtuoso’s catalog.
His first proper release since 2019’s i,i, Vernon takes a trip back to his log cabin days. The EP’s three core tracks are acoustically driven, crisp and clear, with Vernon’s unfiltered voice being the focal point, much like his breakout tracks from For Emma like “Skinny Love,” “Flume” and “re: Stacks.”
Yet, while those songs sounded more like you were sitting around a campfire with Vernon, these new ones sound like he’s right up next to you.
“Things Behind Things Behind Things” opens the EP with a somber yet lively guitar melody as Vernon sings about his struggles with past trauma and how layered and deep it can run for so many people.
He even once described it as like you’re digging through your garage—you just keep finding things behind other things. A wandering and thoughtful start to the project.
“Speyside” was the lead single and is classic Bon Iver through and through. Keeping with the raw, intimate feel, this track leans heavily on Vernon’s tender words and voice as well as the almost country-tinged guitar licks.
This song seems to be talking about a past relationship or connection as Vernon now feels a sense of guilt and responsible for the way things ended. In turn, it makes for a great vehicle to relieve this pain and frustration for anyone going through a similar plight.
The final track may also be my favorite. “Awards Season” is the most simple in its production yet the most effective in its execution and messaging.
As the track details Vernon’s acceptance of a love that has now long faded, his voice also never strays far from your ear. The minimal instrumentation really makes you focus on his words and inflections, helping you take in the song that much more.
Though once the song eventually builds to a climactic cascade of clashing woodwinds and synths, it’s enough to make you start ascending into the sky. While the track begins to fizzle out there also seems to be an unresolved chord at the very end, which has had many fans theorizing about a possible follow-up or continuation to this brief project.
I won’t bore you too much with the countless other speculations and suspicions of a forthcoming Bon Iver record, but what I can tell you is that SABLE, is well worth a listen for any indie folk enjoyer and that you might not have to wait much longer for the next addition to Vernon’s ever-evolving body of work.
My rating: 8.7/10
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awWPV6GnjxY
Support: https://boniver.org/
