Album Review - Bon Iver

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
[Jagjaguwar; 19/02/2008]

Although released independently last year, singer-songwriter, Justin Vernon's music was picked up by Jagjaguwar and released world-wide earlier this year. Quite frankly, it would be of criminal nature if we were to push this to the wayside, with its cinematic grandeur and organic nature basically falling into a position where everything good about music rests.

Let's cut to the “music” and “it”; under the moniker of Bon Iver, Vernon delivers his debut collective of heart melting folk songs; For Emma, Forever Ago. Vernon hits the nail on the head in every aspect. Spanning over eight tracks barley reaching the 30 minute mark, FMFA is a smash and grab affair that leaves its mark on the listener within the first few bars of opener, 'Flume'.

'Skinny Love' presents the heavy hearted wisps of Vernon along with his shadow-thin rhythm guitar that combine to produce one of the folk numbers of the year. 'The Wolves Act I and II' showcases Vernon's croons that slowly traipse into a build-up of syncopated drums that vanish within the blink of an eye, while the closing title track finishing the album off with a rich sounding brass section washing over the release with a sense of eclecticism.

There's really no other way to put it. Vernon's seamless aesthetic of delivering emotional ditties attacks the heart strings of a listener. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved and Vernon seems to be getting things well and truly of his chest with For Emma, Forever Ago, which is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

By Simon K