For Emma Forever Ago [CD]

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Amazon.co.uk Review
It's hard to believe that For Emma, Forever Ago is the work of one man. But when Justin Vernon's old band split he hauled himself (and presumably plenty of instruments and recording equipment) to his dad's hunting cabin in the woods of Wisconsin for the coldest season and worked through his issues in musical form. (The name comes from the French for "good winter"--"bon hiver"). By the start of the spring thaw he had recorded the bulk of this stunning debut, originally self-issued to acclaim last year in the USA and now picked up for a British release. Vernon's voice grabs the ear from the start, switching easily into a smooth falsetto (and unusually for a white indie lad, without the slightest intent of emulating Prince). The formula is straightforward. He layers his vocal harmonies, while a gently strummed acoustic rhythm guitar just about holds the centre. All else from horns to slide guitar is mere detail. The quality is rough and ready but the effect is strangely similar though to the slick vocal confections of European women like Bjork and Camille, all mystery and distance. It's the musical equivalent of reading someone else's diary. In code. Through a dirty window. Enigmatic songs like the elegantly stumbling "Creature Fear" with its rowdy horn parts, the resolute opener "Flume" and the evanescent "Team" are just so pretty they seem to glide by without leaving a mark in the snow. Vernon is apparently a straightforward and friendly guy, but For Emma, Forever Ago genuinely sounds like something from a far off place. --Steve Jelbert

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's hard to believe that For Emma, Forever Ago is the work of one man. But when Justin Vernon's old band split he hauled himself (and presumably plenty of instruments and recording equipment) to his dad's hunting cabin in the woods of Wisconsin for the coldest season and worked through his issues in musical form. (The name comes from the French for "good winter"--"bon hiver"). By the start of the spring thaw he had recorded the bulk of this stunning debut, originally self-issued to acclaim last year in the USA and now picked up by 4AD for a British release. Vernon's voice grabs the ear from the start, switching easily into a smooth falsetto (and unusually for a white indie lad, without the slightest intent of emulating Prince). The formula is straightforward. He layers his vocal harmonies, while a gently strummed acoustic rhythm guitar just about holds the centre. All else from horns to slide guitar is mere detail. The quality is rough and ready but the effect is strangely similar though to the slick vocal confections of European women like Bjork and Camille, all mystery and distance. It's the musical equivalent of reading someone else's diary. In code. Through a dirty window. Enigmatic songs like the elegantly stumbling "Creature Fear" with its rowdy horn parts, the resolute opener "Flume" and the evanescent "Team" are just so pretty they seem to glide by without leaving a mark in the snow. Vernon is apparently a straightforward and friendly guy, but For Emma, Forever Ago genuinely sounds like something from a far off place. --Steve Jelbert

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63 Reviews 5 star:  (38) 4 star:  (7) 3 star:  (6) 2 star:  (7) 1 star:  (5)           Average Customer Review 4.0 out of 5 stars (63 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   46 of 60 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece., 14 Oct 2008 By  Mr. Gideon D. Brody "twitter me: gideon_" (Manchester, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)       In a similar vein to Damien Rice's debut album O, For Emma, Forever Ago is currently spending its gestation time simmering below the radar of popular consciousness before it surely soars into the affections of many. Like Damien Rice before him, Justin Vernon (who in this case goes by the alias, Bon Iver) has created a record of such delicate, intimate beauty that you are left amazed by how it could leave you quite so drained. Although many reading this will already be aware of the context of this record and how it was made, it is integral to the listening experience and so worth mentioning again - although in truth, the music and melodies alone will be enough for some (perhaps more so given the lyrics are slightly hard to distinguish without the booklet). Following the break-up of his band and a relationship frustrated by an ongoing illness, Vernon 'hibernated' and ensconced himself in a cabin in the Wisconsin wilderness. His self-imposed isolation surfaced feelings of loss, guilt and longing carried over the years. With no real intention of recording, the three month exile ended up being musically inspiring and led to the recording of nine polished tracks - though polished doesn't seem like the correct word. The record's raw, organic constitution is thanks largely to the fact that Vernon was unprepared to record and used only basic equipment he had with him at the time. Each track offers little more than acoustic guitars, occasional electric guitar licks and an inventive use of vocal layering and haunting vocal reverb effects. The album opens strongly with Flume and you are immediately aware that you are experiencing something of particular note. Instantly, the album's striking sense of poignancy seems to flood out of Vernon's falsettos and harmonies. The song's passing lyric "Sky is womb / And she's the moon" leaves you wondering long into the next track. Like nearly all of Vernon's poetry, the subject is always kept at arms length. Each song's meaning is left twisted and hidden from view, reflective of Vernon's lonely, tortured circumstance. Lump Sum picks up the pace with its 4/4 intro - its seductive chorus having you mimic the "Or so the story goes" refrain before you realise. Picking up tiny lyric segments and being attached to them is a real feature of the album - again largely due to its low fidelity recording. Skinny Love is reminiscent of Lennon circa Dear Prudence as Vernon's anguish bears itself in a series of searing exclamations: "Who will love you? / Who will fight? / Who will fall far behind?" With its own sense of momentum each track seems to provide the perfect platform for the next. The rousing finale of The Wolves (Act I and II) and its repetition "What might have been lost / What might have been lost / What might have been lost" vignettes Blindsided's palpable sense of unexpected love and expected heartbreak, beautifully. Although this album challenges more than it resolves, there are moments of hope and love. For Emma, perhaps the album's only song to be composed in a major key, describes a playful dispute between lovers and is a relieving tonic to the album's sometimes claustrophobic sense of solitude. It ends with the well-timed: "With all your lies / You're still very loveable." The song's stirring use of brass instruments acts to soothe after some of the album's darker moments. The album's farewell is another mesmeric highlight. Its simple verse and chorus cycle could happily turn over another ten times, weaving and meandering before the stacked staccato delivery of the song's chorus leaves an indelible impression on even the most thick-skinned listener. Like many of the classic albums, albums that seem to pass through decades while hardly ageing, it is as if every moment ­- from the nagging, buzzing guitar string heard during Flume to the appearance of a vocoder during The Wolves (Act I and II) - no matter how incongruous it may seem, becomes ultimately fundamental to the album's success. For Emma, Forever Ago is the product of a time spent alone; a period of immense self-realisation, introspection and reflection. Justin Vernon's catharsis has benefited everyone. Among its cold chill are moments of genuine beauty and the message that we are all capable of confronting our fears and loss. This is the first musical masterpiece of the new century. Comment Comments (4) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   20 of 28 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Notes From A Privileged Isolation, 25 Aug 2008 By  The Wolf (uk) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    That Mr Vernon-Iver should have entitled one of the nine extraordinary songs on this weirdly wonderful album 'Wolves (Act1 & Act2)' would alone have been enough to have caught my attention had not our dear friends at Amazon also kindly included it in their increasingly astute recommendations for me. Isolation is a privilege. Few of us, whether we chose to or not, have the opportunity to be completely alone. The world will not let us unless we find that rare opening to some small space where we might rehearse being ourselves entirely. (Or failing that at least borrow a little time for self-reflection). Far fewer still are those of us fortunate enough to own a father with a hunting cabin in Wisconsin. That said, 'For Emma, Forever Ago', shows evidence of an opportunity well taken. Isolation experienced wisely both refines and distorts perception and there is more than a little madness present in these fine compositions. There is also an elusive, ephemeral beauty. The mood of the album is predominantly low-key and reflective in mood. Mr Vernon's voice possesses a languid charm. Its' high register coaxing a persuasive gravitas from his material. 'Flume' is worthy opening track but the haunting harmonies of 'Lump Sum' sweep it away without our barely noticing. "Skinny Love' is a wistful, almost-but-not-quite-jolly, ditty with a simple sing-along chorus. The Wolf found himself joining in with the "my, my, mys" despite himself. Any song about my own species is bound to satisfy and 'Wolves (Act1 & Act2)' is no exception. Simplicity and economy once again win the day. The harmonies are splendid and the percussive intrusions at it's dark centre positively barmy. 'Blindsided' is a truly lovely song. Perhaps the album's highpoint. The subtle use of brass enhancing the exceptionally well-wrought melodic line. 'Creature Fear' and 'Team' both make judicious use of the drumkit our hero must have taken to the wilderness with him. ( I'm betting his Dad has got a truck as well as a log cabin !). The warm brass appears once again in 'For Emma' ( Things must have been getting pretty crowded in there by this time !). 'Re : Stacks' is a fine ending to a fine project. Mr Vernon's guitar playing heard here at it's economical best. The Cold Good Winter seems to me to have been well spent. Would that I could have been there with him for a while. Recommended. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   19 of 27 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars I desperately wanted to like this album......., 2 Feb 2009 By  Dan (Gloucestershire, England) - See all my reviews ....after all, it's got impeccable credentials (unknown, sensitive bloke pours his heart out over a lost love) and the brief reviews from the music press on the CD sticker suggest it's going to be a belter, but I just found it curiously unengaging and very samey. Not unpleasant, but not particularly memorable either and from the reviews I guess it's turning into a marmite album, but I've listened to it 5 times through from start to finish now and I think the most damning indictment is that I still can't really remember any of the tunes. It's quite fey and whimsical and haunting and all that sort of thing, but my only lingering memory is of a slightly whiny vocal that just kind of annoys you after a while. Also the whole heartbroken/lost love thing is a little compromised by an article I read in which said chap admits he still sees the Emma in question from time to time, she thinks the whole thing is pretty funny and the only change is that she now gets him to pay for their occasional meals as he's shifted a few units and made a few bob. Must admit I expected it to all be a little more Heathcliff and Cathy than that, but now I'm starting to go all conspiracy theorist and wonder if they were in it together and it's all just an elaborate music-based get-rich-quick scheme... The other problem, of course, is the title. I know an Emma and she has already been sent a copy by an ex-boyfriend. This can't be a good thing and if only to save the suffering of Emmas everywhere, my advice would be to borrow a copy first (every second person in the land appears to own a copy by now) if you're really curious and save your hard-earned for something a little more aurally assertive and less Emma-stalking. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 63 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars WOW Easily my favourite thing about this millenium so far, and i've been having a good couple of years!! Published 9 days ago by unkittenlike 3.0 out of 5 stars ruined by bad mixing the music is quite enjoyable but the quality of the recording ruins it , he sounds like hes singing out of a box , and have the vocals been multiple layered or is that just how... Read more Published 1 month ago by Mr. Richard A. Lamb 5.0 out of 5 stars For Emma, Forever Ago Like Dylan, Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver (it's a one-man show) understands that simple, acoustic-led arrangements married with lyrical depth can really pack a punch. Read more Published 1 month ago by K. Nicholls 4.0 out of 5 stars Great, great album! A fresh sounding approach to the singer/songwriter genre. Lovely melodies & some interesting vocal performances. Read more Published 1 month ago by John Sweeney 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Albumn - highly recommend This albumn is truely a great one. Some excellent, well written songs to really meaningful music. Def a classic for the collection that will be played again and again. Published 1 month ago by Ka Slocombe 5.0 out of 5 stars So simplistic and beautiful After hearing 'Skinny Love' a few times on the radio and checking out a couple other tracks on the Internet I decided it was time to buy this album. I was not disappointed! Read more Published 1 month ago by Ben Bowley 4.0 out of 5 stars Soothing sounds for the soul. Should be compulsory 'therapy' for anxious individuals! I held off buying this because there was so much 'hype' about it, more often than not the hype is rarely accurate. Read more Published 2 months ago by Coco 4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Sound I really love the peacefulness of this album. You can just chill out with it in the background. Even though it is probably just as depressing as Damien Rice it somehow sounds... Read more Published 3 months ago by emma_scriptwriter 2.0 out of 5 stars One great track It could just be me, there is only one great track. I have listened and listened I just cant get into it. I hope you have more luck. Published 3 months ago by Ms. K. Mcintyre 4.0 out of 5 stars Winter Wonderland Here is an album as austere and beautiful as the Wisconsin winter in which it was made. Bon Iver's pared down arrangements could almost have emerged fully formed from... Read more Published 3 months ago by Dudley Serious Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 63 customer reviews...

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