Bon Iver is back with two new singles, offering a glimpse into the deeply personal and expansive world of SABLE fABLE.
The new tracks, ‘If Only I Could Wait’ featuring Danielle Haim and ‘Walk Home,’ arrive ahead of the album’s official release on 11 April.
While the record begins with the vulnerable unburdening of last fall’s three-song SABLE, EP, the triptych seamlessly gives way to a new nine-song saga in which one person becomes two, darkness turns to salmon-colored beauty, and sadness transforms to unbridled joy.
SABLE, fABLE
- When: Out on 11 April
- Pre-order/save: here!
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fABLE is described as a journey from the darkness of SABLE, the project’s opening chapter, to the radiant light of fABLE. The two halves of the album explore the evolution of love, starting with desolation and solitude, and gradually transitioning to themes of healing, sensuality, and celebration. With these two singles, Bon Iver pulls listeners deeper into the unfolding story of SABLE, fABLE—a tale of one person becoming two, finding connection, and the delicate balance between love’s most joyous moments and its inevitable complexities.
The first single, ‘Walk Home,’ takes a sensual turn, with Justin Vernon singing about the irresistible pull of desire, shedding both physical and emotional barriers. “We don’t need no window curtains,” he sings, basking in the warmth of a salmon-colored glow. “We can let the light come in, we can shed your earthly burdens.” The song, an exploration of passion and longing, finds Vernon revelling in the carefree euphoria of a moment shared with a lover.
In contrast, ‘If Only I Could Wait,’ a duet with Danielle Haim, dives into the weariness that can follow the flood of new love. The song reflects the emotional struggle of maintaining the idealized connection in the face of human imperfection. The delicate interplay between Vernon and Haim’s voices paints a picture of vulnerability and emotional exhaustion. As Vernon explains, “For the second look into fABLE, it couldn’t be a single; it had to be a double. First, ‘Walk Home’ is a romp where you can’t wait to pull your clothes off fast enough and jump inside bed with your one true lover. And then – the two of singles – ‘If Only I Could Wait.’ A duet. A bilateral crying question. How long can the two of us hang on to each other?”
The songs were recorded at Vernon’s studio, April Base in Wisconsin, following years of dormancy during renovations. SABLE, the prologue to fABLE, was born out of a period of fear, atonement, and sadness, while fABLE serves as a canvas for clarity, focus, and the healing power of infatuation. The conceptual spark for the album came on 2.22.22, when Vernon and Haim found themselves snowed in at the studio, prompting the creation of ‘If Only I Could Wait’ and inspiring the trajectory of the album.
With the release of these new singles, Bon Iver continues to demonstrate their ability to blend raw emotion with cinematic soundscapes, creating a narrative that takes listeners on a journey through the highs and lows of love. As the release of fABLE draws nearer, fans can look forward to even more layers of this deeply introspective and compelling musical story.
