Simply beautiful
For an album that was mainly recorded in a cabin, some of the songs on ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ exude a sense of freedom and open-ness. It is extremely easy to allow the song ‘For Emma’ to wash over you and let the soft vocals and keening backing track to transport you anywhere you want to be. The sprightly opening track may recall previous underground smashes like The Sleepy Jackson and there is definite commonality that makes the record sound instantly recognisable, even though it is an all new track.
This sort of reaction should be viewed as a positive aspect, almost like a comfortable pair of shoes that seem as though they were almost created personally for you and your feet. The almost lazy rhythm shuffles along with no great rush or pressure but it’s a really enjoyable track that is likely to get repeated plays on your stereo. Bon Iver has definitely been one of the underground sleeper hits of the past 12 months and is guaranteed to feature in all the year end polls. ‘For Emma’ is just one key reason why.