The opening chapter of a new archival series, spanning 2019–2023, are ten live recordings that catch Justin Vernon and crew in their natural habitat. Hand‑picked by Vernon from years of touring, the performances feature the familiar Bon Iver allure, considered by the man himself “really us at our best”. Modelled in spirit after the long‑running archival deep‑dives of Bob Dylan and Neil Young, the new Volumes series promises to explore Bon Iver’s many eras through live cuts, demos and unreleased corners of the catalogue. If this first instalment is anything to go by, there’s a lot of treasure in the vault. - Flying Out
VOLUMES: ONE, the first non-studio release from Bon Iver, captures 10 distinctive live performances, recorded between 2019 and 2023, showcasing Justin Vernon and his band at their most whole. There’s a warmth and exuberance across the album, as well as the sort of muscular sound you can really only get at a live show. For the uninitiated and die-hards alike, these recordings could well be the defining versions of the tracks, no doubt made possible through the essential live engineering of Xandy Whitesel and performances from bandmates Jenn Wasner, Sean Carey, Michael Lewis, Matthew McCaughan, and Andrew Fitzpatrick.
Vernon began working on VOLUMES: ONE in 2020, and he spent a considerable amount of time combing through concerts to pull out the right songs to define Bon Iver. “This is what we became,” Vernon comments. “This is really us at our best. This is it.” VOLUMES: ONE, as a result, is something greater than a compilation or live album. It’s entirely new but still familiar, offering a prismatic look at an old friend, seeing them for who they were and who they are, all the goodness of which they're capable but maybe too shy to show at times.
With VOLUMES: ONE, Vernon begins a new Bon Iver archival series that he’s modeled after Bob Dylan’s iconic Bootleg Series and the ever-delivering Neil Young Archives. The series will present the many eras and facets of Bon Iver, spanning live shows, demos, unreleased recordings, and more. “This particular10 songs is like, here, if you’ve never heard Bon Iver, or you have and you didn’t like it, this might be for you,” he says.
Tracklist
- INTRO — [The Forum, Los Angeles, CA — Sep 15 2019]
- MAN LIKE U — [The Forum, Los Angeles, CA — Sep 15 2019]
- WE (feat. Bizhiki) — [Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, MN — Oct 03 2019]
- JELMORE — [Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta, ID — Jan 19 2020]
- 666 — [The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving, TX — Apr 03 2022]
- HEAVENLY FATHER — [Mediolanum Forum, Milan, IT — Nov 05 2022]
- P.D.L.I.F. — [Red Hill Auditorium, Perth, AU — Feb 26 2023]
- HEY, MA — [Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago, IL — Jul 23 2023]
- A SATISFIED MIND — [State Theatre, Portland, ME — Dec 08 2017]
- 33 “GOD” — [WOMADelaide Festival, Adelaide, AU — Mar 10 2023]
- Sh’DIAH (boardmix) — [Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, CA — Oct 06 2019]