I mean, he told you to be patient. It’s been six years since Justin Bon Iver Vernon’s last album, and while that may have left some fans antsy (especially in the midst of a polarizing transition to electronic music), “SABLE, fABLE” is well worth the wait. Yup, this album sure is fantastic. Not only that, it’s fantastic in an interesting way: it possesses neither the raw emotional monsoon of his folksy material nor the high-brow abrasion of his electronic material. “SABLE, fABLE” commits the cardinal sin of being an easy listen, and reaches godly heights in the process. From the stripped-back opener “Things Behind Things Behind Things,” to the booming gospel climax of “If Only I Could Wait,” Vernon invites the listener in with a pleasant sonic palette and songwriting that leans more towards church hymns and less towards painful, post-breakup diary entries.
But fear not — he remains adventurous. There seemingly is no idea that Vernon won’t tackle. He can do falsetto-powered alternative R&B (“Everything is Peaceful Love”). He can do subtly psychedelic indie-rock (“From”). And, God bless the man, he can still do folk (“Things Being Things Behind Things”). Every instrumental is crafted with such depth, care and variety that the songs transcend from the realm of great to the realm of downright impressive. Every note is placed well, the timbre of every instrument is perfect and the grooves never fail to hit. Not only that, the record still cuts deep. By keeping Vernon’s unconventionally powerful voice and extraordinary songwriting talent in tow, “SABLE, fABLE” managed to make me teary-eyed at points, in the same way that I get teary-eyed watching a nice sunset — because, sometimes, there’s just no better way to react to sheer beauty.
Is it a perfect album? Not quite. I’m not particularly fond of the insistence that drum machines be used in place of live drums, and the high amounts of compression in the production aren’t always flattering. But this record is such a feat in songwriting that pointing out those things feels like pedantry. It is for this reason that I can confidently say the following: “SABLE, fABLE” is the best Bon Iver album yet.
