Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE

Is SABLE fABLE Bon Iver’s last album? That’s the rumour running around the American music press. You’ll understand here that we’re not talking about the end of Justin Vernon’s career, but of the Bon Iver moniker, which has been around since 2011. But the last piece is called “Au Revoir,” which could mean that Bon Iver will have a sequel…

This new opus brings together SABLE, a largely acoustic three-song EP released in 2024, and the much more electric and soulful fABLE, which features nine songs. If Justin Vernon’s comments on Bandcamp are anything to go by, SABLE was a mini-album of solitude and rupture, reminiscent of early records like For Emma, Forever Ago. FABLE, on the other hand, embodies a kind of rebirth, light and desire.

Bon Iver do a great job of transitioning between the two parts, as acoustic gives way to more electric instrumentation, and sadness gradually turns to happiness.

Whether or not this is Bon Iver’s last album, it bridges the gap between the first period–the first two acoustic records –and the more experimental and electronic period –the albums 22, A Million and i’i, where Justin Vernon seemed to take pleasure in deconstructing his songs through all sorts of bizarre but fascinating collages.

With fABLE, melody reclaims its rights, returning to a form of simplicity. There’s also a soulful, almost gospel feel, but with Vernon’s particular aesthetic. This is particularly evident on “Day One,” featuring soul singer Dijon and the all-female group Folk of Dimes. There’s a groove throughout fABLE. Bon Iver manages to pull off the transition between the two parts very well, as acoustic gives way to more electric instrumentation, sadness gradually transforming into happiness.

On first listen, while having a quiet lunch, the album intrigued me. On second listen, I put on headphones and realized that there were plenty of intriguing collages and arrangements despite this return to deliberate simplicity. Saxophones, strings, steel guitars, multiple keyboards, and innovative vocal harmonies.

Obviously, Justin Vernon’s voice remains the unifying factor, and that falsetto captivates us with its singularity.

Whether or not he ends the Bon Iver moniker, Justin Vernon will continue to make all his own music, evolving as he sees fit. Goodbye, Justin.