EP Review: Bon Iver - 'SABLE'
Bon Iver announce the warmly-welcomed release of upcoming EP, ‘SABLE,’ – featuring a triptych of intimate songs exploring themes of healing and reflection.
Front man Justin Vernon independently released the band’s debut album ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ in 2007. Primarily recorded over a period of three months while isolated in a Wisconsin cabin, the album gained wide-spread popularity. Since then, with the accompaniment of following projects such as ‘Bon Iver, Bon Iver’ and ‘i, i’, the band has become a staple within the indie-folk music landscape. With the announcement of their new EP ‘SABLE,’ it’s clear that fans are aching for some perfect autumnal melodies.
‘SABLE,’ introduces the effortlessly stripped down, laid-back nature similar to that of Bon Iver’s first projects. Although appearing to be returning to the sound of the band’s beginnings, Justin Vernon explains that this EP is a reintroduction to Bon Iver, and starting a fresh.
Entering into this new era is ‘THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS’. Starting with an eerie high-pitched tone followed with a soft galloping beat it confidently marks the new approach Vernon is taking with this project. Unapologetically he states the uncertainty of this alternative proposal with the lyrics ‘I am afraid of changing’. Bon Iver’s ability to keep things true to heart and not sugar-coat stories is one of the many reasons that they have been able to connect with people on a global scale. Their music feels raw and sincere, packaged up into beautiful lyrics and melodies. ‘I see things / Behind things / Behind things / And there are rings / Within rings / Within rings’ gives us an insight into the many layers Justin Vernon has had to peel back to create this intimate EP, increasingly touching on subjects of healing, introspection, and emotional processes.
Next up is ‘S P E Y S I D E’. It carries the band’s signature ethereal sound, haunting vocals, and reflective lyrics effortlessly. A slight pick up in tempo of the light strumming of the guitar aids a feeling of hope, gently humming in the background alongside the violins. Although still diving into difficult themes, Bon Iver masters the ability to make heavy emotions more digestible. ‘SABLE,’ serves as a safe, non-judgemental space for Vernon to unpack the burdensome and challenging pressure and anxiety that amounted to one of the toughest periods of his life.
The final and arguably most emotional song appearing on the new EP is ‘AWARDS SEASON’. The majority of the song features only the pure rawness of Justin Vernon’s vocals, backed by a comforting whine of a metal singing bowl. This track feels like you’re peering into the innermost thoughts and feelings of Vernon, and it acts like a letter to himself. The singing bowl provides a calming, grounding feel and a sense of consistency throughout. As brass instruments begin to trickle in, vocals take a back seat to allow for an intimate instrumental solo – and although painfully sad, it feels peaceful. The clever use of unrefined vocals make it appear as if Vernon is back in the Wisconsin cabin where Bon Iver first began, bottled up inside the four walls and singing to himself. ‘AWARDS SEASON’ leaves the EP with a sting – painful and teary-eyed, yet inexplicably beautiful.
‘SABLE’, although stripped back, is far from simple. Bon Iver have once again mastered the perfect balance between intensity and tenderness into an unforgettable EP. This new era is raw and relentless, constantly revealing deeper layers of emotion and transformation with a fresh perspective.
Words by Cameron Cookson
