I do wonder how much attention Bon Iver's 'For Emma, Forever Ago' would have got without the story that went with it. Seriously, did you read any reviews of that album that didn't mention the log cabin, the heartbreak and the hunting?
In any case, Justin Vernon is back with a four track EP which moves on from heartbreak and general musings on hopelessness and lethary to a vague theme of seasons changing and the pursuit of winter warmth. The title track features Vernon singinig largely without his familiar falsetto, but the traditional simple strumming is present. Until a fuzzy electric guitar break towards the end, its all very pleasant but a little bit Coldplay.
The middle tracks, 'Babys' and 'Beach Baby' feel like inconsequential interludes, piano, electronica and falsetto but little that lingers long in the mind. Closing track 'The Woods' certainly does though, with just once verse sang over and over again with varying multi-layered harmonies it is quite haunting. As the song progresses, distortion is used on the vocal sounds to create an other-worldly sound, but it ruins the effect somewhat. It is an interesting experiment though, unsettling but with no small amount of beauty.
This is a patchy EP, with really only one fully formed song and some ideas and experiments. It serves as a reassurance that Vernon can write music without retreating to a log cabin but in terms of quality is a little disappointing.
5.8
['Blood Bank' is out now on cd, 12" and download on JagJaguwar]5.8
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