Listen: Kathleen Edwards – Wapusk (ft. Bon Iver)

Justin Vernon certainly has a thing for the discerning female singer-songwriter. Back in 2008, during the height of the For Emma, Forever Ago tour, Bon Iver would often close their set with a stirring cover of ‘Lovin’s For Fools’ – a song written by the criminally overlooked Sarah Siskind. So taken with Siskind’s work in fact, Vernon took her out on the road throughout the tail end of his UK and Europe tour as main opening act. I was lucky enough to witness the pair play the song live at London’s Victoria Apollo. Genuinely one of the most moving musical moments I’ve ever experienced. Although far from doing it justice, there’s a fairly reasonable quality video of the performance here.

I digress. Fast forward to 2011 and Bon Iver has not only blossomed as a live act but a modern day icon to boot. Enter then, Kathleen Edwards who has been hand picked by Vernon to open throughout his forthcoming UK and European tour dates. Gaining considerable critical acclaim in her Canadian homeland since the release of debut album Failer, Edwards’ plaintive brand of alt. country never fails to stir the senses. No less so with this latest track, taken from the forthcoming album Voyageur (due out January 2012). Featuring subtle backing vocals and production duties from Justin Vernon, this is certainly one of the most glorious pieces of melancholy you’re likely to come across; Edwards’ lilting vocal aching over a delicate bed of weeping guitar, piano and violin. Let’s hope for a joint live performance in the same vein as the aforementioned Sarah Siskind collaboration over the coming months.

Kathleen Edwards – Wapusk (featuring Bon Iver)