Music Review: On Bon Iver's ‘SABLE, fABLE,' love inspires a chilly, robotic R&B patchwork
On Bon Iver's 'SABLE, fABLE,' Justin Vernon sings about his fear of change. And then he strives to embrace it.
The album is the first in six years from Vernon's project, an epilogue to the reluctant pop star's three-song EP 'SABLE,' released last fall. Those minimalist, dark tunes open the album, with Vernon lamenting impermanence while also seeking something new.
On the 'fABLE' songs that follow, he finds what he's looking for: love. The album traces the arc of a courtship as Vernon plugs a hole in his heart.
'I don't know who I am without you,' goes a lyric on 'Day One,' the album's most impassioned vocal performance thanks to contributions from Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner and alt-R&B musician Dijon. Much of the music is less convincing, alas, and fails to convey the heat of the moment.
Bon Iver's sonics have toggled between his early, recorded-in-a-cabin ballads and the dense layers of more recent releases. Vernon and rising talent Jim-E Stack co-produced the new music, and while much of it comes from Vernon's woodsy Wisconsin studio, it's the opposite of organic.
Multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz contributes lovely pedal steel, and an occasional saxophone peaks through, but the primary instrument seems to be a computer. Synthesizers serve up digital dissonance, samples are part of a robotic patchwork, and vocals often sound chilly and disembodied.
The album's techno-folk sound evolves as Vernon sings about growth, and his gauzy romanticism settles on an R&B aura built around his formidable falsetto. At times it seems he's about to launch into 'Betcha By Golly, Wow,' or some other '70s soul hit. Nothing here is that catchy, but his rising vocal line does distinguish the lead single 'Everything Is Peaceful Love,' and he borrows a Jackson 5 title on the soulful 'I'll Be There.'
Long keen to collaborate, Vernon duets with Danielle Haim of the band HAIM on 'If Only I Could Wait,' a persuasive lament about the ebb of love that served as the album's genesis. Less successful is 'Walk Home,' an ode to lust undercut by mystifyingly altered, decidedly unromantic kazoo-like singing.
A fetching retro dance groove makes 'From' appealing, and a shimmering keyboard provides a big hook on the final song, 'There's A Rhythmn.' The spelling, like the album, falls shy of Bon Iver's best efforts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
2 hours ago
- Elle
Can Castor Oil Really Transform Your Hair?
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. If you're chronically online and, more specifically, a frequent #HairTok watcher, then you've come across several videos on ingredients like rosemary oil or even Amla oil celebrating their purported growth-inducing benefits in hair growth oils and hair masks. Yet amongst all these buzzy ingredients, one stalwart remains a constant in the hair growth conversation: castor oil. This time-tested treatment has been woven into the tapestry of generations and is likely a familiar presence in your own hair care routine. 'Castor oil is the world's oldest and most popular herbal remedy for hair oiling,' says Nikita Mehta, co-founder and creative director of ayurvedic haircare brand Fable & Mane. It's rich in fatty acids like ricinoleic acid, making it very viscous, nourishing, and moisturizing. It's proven to coat the shaft of the hair, reducing damage and helping it grow longer and stronger.' With 566 million views dedicated to #castoroil on TikTok and over 258,000 posts on Instagram, users claim the oil does everything from making hair shinier and bouncier to growing it thicker and longer. But are these claims legit? We ask three experts about the benefits of castor oil and exactly how to use it. Dr. Nikki Hill is a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration expert. Bridgette Hill is a certified trichologist, colorist, and scalp therapist. Nikita Mehta, co-founder & creative director of ayurvedic haircare brand Fable & Mane. Castor oil, also known as Ricinus communis, is a nutrient-rich vegetable oil made from castor beans. Although it originates in tropical East Africa, it is widely used in India and the West Indies for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Castor oil is usually clear or pale yellow unless derived through roasting or boiling, which is known as black castor oil. Down to a molecular level, castor oil is a long-chained fatty acid. 'Fatty acids provide essential proteins and nutrients to hair follicles and prevent hair follicle inflammation,' says Bridgette Hill. Aside from being anti-inflammatory, castor oil has a few other noteworthy properties. 'Some benefits of using castor oil include increased gloss or shine of the hair, increased hair shaft flexibility by coating the hair shaft, [and] providing antimicrobial properties,' says Dr. Hill. 'No studies exist showing castor oil can increase hair growth >1cm/month, which is the FDA standard of hair growth,' says Dr. Hill. 'However, I have patients tell me differently all the time. Additionally, 90 percent of castor oil is made up of the fatty acid ricinoleic acid. [It] is known to stimulate the Prostaglandin E2 receptor, leading to blood vessel dilation. When applied to the scalp, increased blood vessel dilation increases the flow of oxygen-rich and nutrient-rich blood to the powerhouse of your follicle, the dermal papilla, or the root of the hair.' Bridgette Hill agrees that castor oil indirectly promotes hair growth. 'Because of the nutrients in castor oil, it protects the hair follicle from outside cellular and tissue invaders that destroy the health and vitality of the hair follicle.' The short answer is yes to the eyebrows, but be cautious with the eyelashes. 'If there isn't an allergy to castor oil after patch testing, it is safe to use on the eyebrows,' says Dr. Hill. There is no safety data about castor oil and eye health, so I would be cautious and speak with an ophthalmologist about applying castor oil in close proximity to the eye.' Although castor oil is widely used, it is not meant for everyone. Therefore, it is important to perform a patch test before applying it to your scalp. 'Apply a small amount behind the ear or the inner upper arm for a week,' says Dr. Hill. Once you determine that castor oil is compatible with your scalp, the next step is selecting the right amount. 'Hair oiling can work for all hair and scalp types, but the secret to how much [ingredients] lies in the formula,' says Mehta. Her rule of thumb: the purer the oil, the heavier it'll be. Here, Dr. Hill also goes into more detail: The best way to use castor oil is on dry hair and scalp. 'Warm the oil between your palms first, then work it through the roots and massage onto the scalp, focusing on the crown chakra (the top of your head) to relieve tension and feelings of stress,' Mehta says. After combing the excess through to the lengths of your hair, let it sit in for 20 minutes or even overnight. 'Rinse it thoroughly with lukewarm water and then shampoo out. You may need to double cleanse to ensure you remove all traces of the oil, and I usually skip the conditioner after hair oiling as the oils provide so much hydration. You'll notice a difference in hair hydration and, if done consistently, you'll see hair growth in length and volume.' All of our hair experts recommend cold-pressed castor oil. 'Cold-pressed castor oil can be used on the hair shaft,' Dr. Hill says. Mehta describes it as pale gold in appearance, adding that since 'castor oil is so thick and can 'stick' to hair, it's best used when diluted with a lighter carrier oil, such as coconut or almond.' If you're interested in trying black castor oil, Dr. Hill notes: 'It should be applied only to the scalp. If black castor oil is applied to the hair, a cuticle-sealing technique should be used afterward. Both forms will provide sufficient components of ricinoleic acid.' If you have dandruff, it is best to avoid using castor oil on your hair. Both of our experts say it can make the condition worse.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Red River Valley Museum nears goal for Waggoner exhibit hall upgrade
VERNON (KFDX/KJTL) — The Red River Valley Museum in Vernon is now closer to its fundraising goal after Saturday, June 8, evening's Burgers, Boots and Brews event. It's the second time the museum has hosted the event, which drew approximately 150 people. Food Truck Championship returns to Graham for the 10th year The evening's menu consisted of burgers, beans, and chips, cooked up on a chuck wagon, accompanied by music from the Blaine Gillespie Band. All proceeds collected for the event will be used for renovations to the museum's Waggoner Exhibit Hall. Marketing Director Cooper Alexander said they have fundraised 71 percent of their goal. Every dollar more for it, she said, honors the legacy of the ranch and everyone who worked there. 'Having our community support us with events like this means a lot because we're making history every day,' Alexander said. 'It's not just in the past, it's happening now, and these people are helping us keep history alive by celebrating with us. Donating and fundraising for us to memorialize and honor the Wagner family, all the cowboys that worked on that ranch, and the history that is still being made out there every day.' The museum also held its 24th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, where our very own Dylan Jimenez won the Herring Bank Award. The exhibit goes on until July 11. To learn more about the museum or help them with renovations, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Phil Spencer Just Lowkey Confirmed The Halo: Combat Evolved Remaster Making 2026 A Massive Year For Xbox
What might have been the biggest news of the Xbox summer showcase didn't come in the form of a surprise trailer but rather straight from the mouth of Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. While there was no footage to debut, the executive quietly let slip that a new Forza is coming next year as well as the 'return of a classic' that's been with Xbox from the beginning. It's hard to imagine that's anything other than the previously reported Halo: Combat Evolved remaster. 'As we think about bringing a new generation of players to these iconic franchises I'm excited to share that players will get to celebrate 25 years of Xbox with a new Fable, the next Forza, Gears of War: E-Day, and the return of a classic that's been with us since the beginning,' Spencer said near the end of the livestream. That tiny, innocuous-sounding snippet was full of news. The Gears of War prequel didn't previously have a release window and the newest Forza hadn't previously been mentioned at all (will it be Forza Horizon 6 or something else?) But the detail most fans will be glomming onto is the hint at the original Halo's return. That game, previously reported by The Verge's Tom Warren to be a remaster of Halo: Combat Evolved in Unreal Engine 5, will presumably follow in the footsteps of the recent remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion,which Microsoft shadow-dropped last month. If that ends up being the case, the Halo remaster will likely be the original game running with overhauled graphics and some tweaked systems, though unlike Oblivion, there is already an HD Master Chief Collection players can use to access Bungie's hit 2001 shooter. We'll have to wait to learn more to see if Combat Evolved gets a more fundamental reworking to make it stand out on modern platforms. Whatever it ends up being, it's almost a guaranteed thing that a Halo remaster will be coming to PlayStation 5 as well, potentially serving as the perfect starting point to bring the iconic Xbox exclusive to Sony's console for the first time ever. And while that multiplatform push has left some fans wondering why they bothered buying an Xbox console at all this generation, Spencer's last-minute sound-bite suggests next year will be full of nostalgia for those who have been with the platform for decades. All of the core, previously exclusive franchises will be there, and playable on Microsoft's new Xbox-branded ROG Ally PC gaming handheld to boot. . For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
