Bon Iver announces "the epilogue" with new album, SABLE, fABLE
Bon Iver's first studio album in six years is a continuation of his SABLE, EP from last fall.
Photo by Graham Tolbert
Surprise! Apparently, there was an actual purpose to the comma in the title of Bon Iver’s 2024 SABLE, EP. Today, the beloved indie artist (a.k.a. Justin Vernon) announced SABLE, fABLE—a full-length continuation of the project and his first studio album in six years. “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,” the artist shared in a press release. SABLE, was named for “near-blackness” and its three songs were bleak enough to match; still, it seems there may be some light amidst all that darkness after all.
Interestingly, Vernon notes that SABLE, fABLE “begins Bon Iver’s next chapter: the epilogue.” He didn’t provide any other information about that particular claim, so it’s unclear whether or not he’ll release any further albums under the Bon Iver moniker. In November, the artist released a mysterious website called “Counterpart” that asked: “Who else could embody the role of Bon Iver?” Is he about to announce his successor Willy Wonka-style? You never really know with Vernon, but we do know that “SABLE, fABLE is a canvas for truth laid bare”… whatever that means. It also closes with a track called “Au Revoir,” which seems pretty conclusive to this writer.
Like Bon Iver albums of yore, SABLE, fABLE was partly formulated while Vernon was snowed in in his home state of Wisconsin. This time, Danielle Haim came along for the ride, leading to the collaborative track “If Only I Could Wait.” We’ll have to wait a little while to hear that one, but Vernon plans to release a different song, “Everything Is Peaceful Love,” at 10 a.m. ET on Valentine’s Day. Fans also have a little something extra to get excited about, because the single will also arrive with a music video directed by John Wilson of HBO’s How To With John Wilson.
SABLE, fABLE officially releases April 11. You can check out the tracklist (and start theorizing about Bon Iver’s epilogue) below:
SABLE, fABLE Tracklist
THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS
S P E Y S I D E