I recently introduced Lost in the Trees to our blog and playlist. Their combination of American folk, modern pop, dramatic unconventional symphonic classical elements pulled together by Ari Picker have placed them in the spotlight as far as we are concerned, so the news that they have re-orchestrated Bon Iver’s Lump Sum from his debut album For Emma Forever Ago was great news.
Ari Picker, singer songwriter for North Carolina classical folk rock ensemble Lost In The Trees has re-orchestrated the haunting track ‘Lump Sum’ off the acclaimed debut album For Emma Forever Ago by Bon Iver. The song’s original recording was a Thoreau like tale of rebirth through isolation, with songwriter Justin Vernon isolated in a Wisconsin cabin alone with some instruments. While the original recording was eventually augmented by some further instrumentation, it retains an intensely intimate and distinctly home made feel that only empowers the impressionistic tale of loneliness and loss. On the new recording, Ari Picker utilizes a classical background forged at the Berklee School of Music to enhance the song with further instrumentation, most noticeably powerful washes of strings and an echoing dream like piano. This new interpretation successfully retains all the intimacy and heartbreaking emotion of the original while lending it an additional sonic power perfectly complimenting Vernon’s beautiful and mournful vocals.
Bon Iver “Lump Sum” (Ari Picker Re-Orch) by antirecords
Buy CDs:
Lost in the Trees: All Alone In An Empty House
Bon Iver: For Emma Forever Ago