For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver Album Review

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Album Review

The next Ray Lamontagne? Possibly.

Grizzly 27 year old singer-songwriter Justin Vernon's nom de guerre is Bon Iver. He hails from Wisconsin USA. This album was recorded in his father's hunting cabin over three months - November, December 2006 and January 2007, with a small amount of additional recording (drums and horns) near Raleigh North Carolina. The reason being, he needed to escape from hometown Eau Claire, to reflect on the break-up of his band De Yarmond. He hadn't planned to 'make' an album, but the isolation became an inspiration in creating yet another piece in the ever-expanding Americana genre. By definition, this is a one-man-band who's created a rustic and gorgeous suit of low-fi songs that have a tenderness and warmth all of their own. Considering the time and place, this is some achievement, really. I've been there, Wisconsin, so I can relate to this album's demograph. His wafer-thin falsetto just adds to the overall charm. Make no mistake, he may have been in a reflective mood, but there isn't any hint of melancholy or bitterness.

It's just a man, a guitar, and his thoughts, in union. And what a union it is. Flume, gentle opener, is fairly stripped back, probably much like the sparse room it was recorded in, where we hear Vernon's movements as he hesitantly strums his acoustic guitar which sharply juxtapose with the celestial 'choir' section. Had anyone been peeping through a window, they would have seen quite a surreal vista indeed.

It's as if he's trying to keep the moment all to himself. Multiple Vernon over-dubs provide the heavenly choric effect for the beginning of Lump Sum, which again, he lovingly strums at pace. A similar flow ensues on the (slightly) more indigenously rooted Skinny Love, with its "my, my, my, "repetition enough to make it radio-friendly, just. Then comes the gem of gems. Sparse The Wolves, is melody heavy with that swirling falsetto multiplied for an awesome audio experience with exploding drums like fireworks building into the crescendo. For the start of Creature Fear, he's gone for a magnificent Beach Boys close-harmony effect that precursors the two part undulating dynamic. Team's banging drum intro continues throughout, layered by whistles and clangs. Another major highlight is the divine For Emma. Strums, trumpeting electric guitar, horns, and a cool understated beat make it the most gorgeous song here, with the singing kept to the minimum.

Signing -off with re:stacks, we get a possible hint that his seclusion might also have something to do with a lady - "this is not the sound of a new man or crisp realization / it's the sound of the unlocking and the lift away / your love will be / safe with me." We can only guess.

Lyrically, For Emma, Forever as an album, is cryptic, and secretive even, but you're still engaged somehow. In many ways it's very enigmatic. And why not.

File under: Totally, totally beguiling debut.

Elly Roberts