Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago – Recently donated to my music library from my MMC friend Gretchen, who also has wonderful taste in music. Long live the MMC!
The temperature dropped dramatically today and I was suddenly reminded that it is still winter in London. Spring never actually happens – just moderate cold followed my windy rain and then temperate sunshine with hints of cloud pressing at all times. Given the climate is driving me towards a melancholic mood, why not listen to an artist who created an album derived from a messy break up followed by a life of solitude living in Northern Wisconsin to “sort it out”. Perfect timing. And a great mood piece. Vernon’s loneliness cuts through every song and is as beautiful as it is painful. Remarkably, the album feels very expansive, having been produced in a log cabin with primitive equipment. A solitary symphony. His voice gets frequent associations to Tunde Adebimpe from TV On The Radio which is fair when he relies on his falsetto. What inspires me is his ability to tap into his raw emotion both lyrically and sonically. He obviously has much to pull from. His ability to refine the hurt into distinctive statements that are honest and non-indulgent is impressive. Moreover, the combination of the raw technique (you can hear the guitar squeal when he switches chords) and mastery of layering (multi-tracked versions of a Bon Iver chorus that bite over each other) moves For Emma from a great break up album into a fantastic work of art. I want more. But I don’t wish this type of heartache on anyone!
Burn by Ray LaMontagne