Bon Iver (french for 'good winter') is the stage and recording name of singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. Vernon self-released his debut For Emma, Forever Ago in October last year. The album garnered much critical acclaim and was picked up by Jagjaguwar for a stateside re-release earlier this year.
The majority of the album was recorded over a four month period in a remote cabin in Wisconsin. Vernon's four month hibernation resulted in a collection of hushed, intricate folk songs, dealing with "All of his personal trouble, lack of perspective, heartache, longing, love, loss and guilt". Despite its seeming complexity, the record was created with nothing more than a few microphones and some aged recording equipment. Bon Iver is likely to draw comparisons to Iron & Wine for his quiet folk and and tranquil intimacy, but in fact, Vernon's adopted falsetto is worlds apart, sounding more like TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe, not just in his vocal timbre, but in the way his voice grows grainier as it gets louder. For Emma, Forever Ago is a stunning and beautiful record, and although technically released in 07, is fast become one of my favorite albums of the year. Its set for a UK in May on 4AD. I strongly recommend you pick it up.
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