At first listen, it might seem the rustic, introspective folk approach of 2007 breakthrough For Emma, Forever Ago is long gone, yet this fascinating trip through a landscape littered with auto-tuned vocals, snatches of samples and glitchy loops pulses with a human heart.
Take 715-CREEK, where Vernon’s a cappella becomes a distorted, fractured plea.
From the men-from-Mars backing vocals to all the techno-soul-funk grit, there’s a weirdness here that would have had Prince applauding from on high.
• Bon Iver. 22, A Million. Jagjaguwar.
• Five stars (out of five)
Single download: 33 GOD
For those who like: Kanye West meets Crooked Still
— Shane Gilchrist