February 18, 2012

Bon Iver at AIR Studios

Casey posted this beautiful performance by Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon accompanied by Sean Carey at his blog yesterday.

Recorded in AIR Studio’s Lyndurst Hall — a building that was originally a church and missionary school designed in 1880 by the great Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse (designer of the Natural History Museum) — Vernon was joined only by Carey, with the pair positioning themselves opposite one another at two grand pianos. Although neither Justin nor Sean’s first instrument is piano, they were able to remodel the songs in a way that showcases their complimentary vocals and, perhaps more strikingly, a seemingly effortless ability to experiment with form and structure.

The playlist is:

1. Hinnom, TX
2. Wash.
3. I Can’t Make You Love Me
4. Babys
5. Beth/Rest

posted by in beauty, music, video | * | 7 comments 

comments

  1. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    Something’s so wonderful in an artist taking control of a massive, sonorous instrument and controlling it, making it their instrument of expression.

  2. Dave Vogt on February 18th, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    You know that thing where you don’t realize how much you need to hear a specific song until you hear it? That.

  3. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    When I think of pianos or organs, big or small, or any other instrument, (writing fits in this thought, or any one collection of things one gathers to put together.) I think of them as animals to “tame” to bend them to convey the expression one wants to convey. One rarely knows in the beginning what one is after.

  4. Dave Vogt on February 18th, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    It just happened again and the video isn’t half over yet. I think I have a new crush.

  5. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    Animal husbandry, fits my model of art, too.

  6. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2012 at 4:42 pm

    “One rarely knows in the beginning what one is after.”

    Or after, when a deed is done. When done, one finds one didn’t quite accomplish. It is the place to start again.

  7. Rick Neece on February 18th, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    Starting again is hard.

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