Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
[4AD]

A simple act of escapism can do wonders for creativity, and when you’re conscious of the fact that this stunning album from Justin Vernon, writing under the nom de plume Bon Iver, is the product of a long stay in the remote Wisconsin wilderness, the record feels all the richer for it. Not to say that the songs fail to stand up on their own of course – ‘Lump Sum’ finds a slow, fuzzy brand of chamber pop layered over a hypnotic bassline which throbs quickly and vitally throughout. Another highlight is ‘Skinny Love’, hinting throughout at the relationship break-up suggested by the album title, and sees Vernon’s resonant vocals slaloming between feelings of nostalgia and the remorseless desire to move forward with his life.

At times it is difficult to fathom the image of this being a one-man opus. Imagine echoey, multi-tracked vocals so powerful that you can visualise a whole choir of TV On The Radio vocalists behind the mic. What also becomes apparent through repeated listens to ‘For Emma...’ is that the smaller details often embellish the record’s already-haunting atmosphere rather wonderfully. The occasional sonic subtlety can creep into earshot from beneath the sombre tones of the acoustic guitar work, adding no small amount of depth to the track in question. Be it a delicate splash near the start of ‘Flume’ or the electric guitar akin to an alarm sounding in the background of ‘Team’, they all tend to bewitch and reward the listener in equal measure.

Given the album’s context within the personal life of its creator, and the rather organic nature of the Bon Iver approach to recording, the listener cannot help but feel sympathetic to the guy’s bid to get over his recent troubles. It’s a deeply personal album, and his intent to share the ins and outs of his plight is such that you end up feeling oddly close to the subject matter. This is a prime example of music acting as a form of therapy for the artist involved, and it’s a pleasure to be invited along to join him in looking back on a very good winter indeed.

For Emma, Forever Ago Track Listing:

1. Flume
2. Lump Sum
3. Skinny Love
4. The Wolves (Act I & II)
5. Blindsided
6. Creature Fear
7. Team
8. For Emma
9. Re: Stacks