Bon Iver's three-song collection SABLE, was a prologue miredin darkness, a controlled burn clearing the way for newpossibilities. fABLE is the book that follows. Where SABLE, was a work of solitude, fABLE is an outstretched hand. Radiant, ornate pop music gleams around Vernon's voice as hefocuses on a new and beautiful era. On every song, his eyes are locked with one specific person. It's love, which means there's an intense clarity, focus, and honesty within fABLE. It's a portrait of a man flooded and overwhelmed by that first meeting ("Everything Is Peaceful Love"). There's a tableau defined by sex and irrepressible desire ("WalkHome"). This is someone filled with light and purpose seeing an entire future right in front of him: a partner, new memories, maybe a family. There's something undeniably healing about infatuation. Cleaving to someone else can feel like light pouring in from adoor that's suddenly swung wide. But there's a reason SABLE, isof a piece with fABLE; the shadow still rears it's head in lightertimes. Even when you've reached a new chapter, you'll still find yourself back in your own foundational muck. A fable isn't a fairy tale. There's good stuff: unbridled joy and trips to Spain. But fables aren't hinged on happy endings; they're here to instilla lesson. As the album winds to a close, he acknowledges the need forpatience and a commitment to put in the work. There's aselfless rhythm required when you're enmeshing yourself withanother person. The song-and by extension the entire album-is a pledge. He's ready to find that pace.