Bon Iver - SABLE fABLE (Album Review)

Photo: Graham Tolbert

Bon Iver head honcho Justin Vernon has explained the origins of his latest album’s title as “sable is the darkest black on Earth and it rhymes with fable.” Depending on your feelings towards Vernon and his work, you’ll either find this profound or you’ll think it sounds like something uttered in the unintentionally hilarious rock doc Bros: After the Screaming Stops.

This dichotomy encapsulates ‘SABLE, fABLE’. It’s fitting that Vernon’s fifth full length was released on the first weekend of Coachella festival, because these 13 tracks feel as sun-flecked, superficial and sporadically delightful as a hang at the California celebrity and influencer meet-up.

The record is split into two sections. Its first four tracks are taken from the more spacious, distilled previous Bon Iver EP, while the subsequent nine are new compositions that channel soul and soft-rock in Vernon’s clearest embrace of accessible pop music yet.

It should be helpful, then, that time has been kind to pop music that was once viewed as superficial and lacking edge. And yet, on Walk Home and From, Vernon’s updates of ‘90s boy band ballads result only in a contemporary sheen that does little to mask their formulaic blandness.

Some tracks are more interesting. The Danielle Haim-featuring If Only I Could Wait is over-produced but rhythmically and structurally unique. Day One also has its charms — it’s all maximalist guitars and unpredictable layers of drums and vocals. With ‘SABLE, fABLE’ Vernon has channelled his ultra-emotive songwriting into his most overtly pop album to date. Whether it has worked or not is very much in the eye of the beholder.

More Reviews from Tom Morgan

Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke - Tall Tales

Employed To Serve - Fallen Star

Sumac and Moor Mother - The Film

Whatever The Weather - Whatever The Weather II

Anna B Savage - You and i are Earth

Mogwai - The Bad Fire

Pixies - The Night The Zombies Came

Porridge Radio - Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me

Midwife - No Depression In Heaven

Jon Hopkins - Ritual

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Wild God

Los Campesinos! - All Hell

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