Bon Iver - Speyside

I’d like to set a scene for you. You’re in Portugal, specifically Lisbon, and you’re sitting in this huge food market hall with various stalls scattered all around, almost like a more cultured food court in a mall. You get some fresh fish from one of the stalls and go to sit down. You’re about to dig in, surrounded by the constant background hum of many people also checking out the various stalls and having polite conversation. All of the sudden, you notice there is also music playing in the background over the speakers. It’s faint, all you hear is just a soft guitar and a man singing like it’s the last song he’ll ever sing. You can’t make out any of the lyrics, until the very last line, and you commit it to memory to look up later. 

This, is Speyside. Imagine my surprise when I get home and find out it’s from none other than Bon Iver! I listened to his music so much growing up, and I had no clue he still was putting masterpieces out there to this day. I just couldn’t believe that in the most random of places, a song that I could barely even hear that didn’t fit the situation managed to touch me. But that’s the power of Bon Iver. And after giving it a more dedicated and thorough listen all the way through, it touches me even more, and I hope you feel it, too. 

Speyside feels like melancholy personified. It has this longing to it, a feeling of self reflection and a sense of emptiness. It’s an incredible listen, one that is so simple yet so profound. 

And of course if this is your first introduction to Bon Iver, take a look back through his catalogue, you’ll find many such cases of songs capturing the essence of more nuanced emotions. Or if this isn’t your first brush with him, here’s your wonderful news that he has more music waiting for you!