No matter how hard they try, some peoples talents are so special that they cannot escape fame and adoration, even if it means spending 3 months alone in a cabin in Northern Wisconsin, for that is what Justin Vernon (who goes under the moniker of a deliberately mispelt French translation of ‘Good Winter’) did in order to find silence and solitude…. all he managed to do really is record a spiritual album of acoustic songs which are up there with some of the best raw, personal and passionate recordings of the last 30 years.

Having shacked up on his own in a log cabin and tried the mispelt name trick, it was clear Vernon was none too keen on making much of himself, Alan Sugar he is not, but having originally pressed a modest 500 copies of this debut recording he has now found himself in a position of supply and demand that the Amstrad king could only dream of, with album of the year nominations sure to be soon piling up.

“I can’t take full credit for it, and I was the only one there”
Justin Vernon

Heartache, misery and solace have always been great factors in making a truly classic recording and a lonely Justin Vernon has done just that and if you like your music, thoughtful and melancholic then this is for you, expect this to be a slow burner over the coming months and feature in the end of year lists for those with a fine ear.

Not yet released in the UK you can get the US vinyl version over here at Piccadilly Records or grab the imported CD from Amazon.