Epoch [5LP Box Set], Deyarmond Edison, Vinyl

In the summer of 2005, four friends left Wisconsin for North Carolina with asingular goal: to outrun their folk-rock doldrums. During a year of intense focus,study, and vulnerability, they did exactly that, reaching toward the ecstatic edge ofNew Weird America by trying out a little of everything-grindcore and gospel, freejazz and phase pieces, bluegrass and blues-and packing it into DeYarmond Edison. Maybe you know the rest? One member went home to begin what would becomeBon Iver, while three stayed put to start Megafaun. Epoch is the story of DeYarmond Edison: Brad Cook, Phil Cook, Justin Vernonand Joe Westerlund, told as never before. The collection comprises five LPs, fourCDs, dozens of unheard recordings and unseen photos. It's accompanied by anextensive biography from writer and cohort Grayson Haver Currin, who also servesas executive producer to the collection. All told, Epoch captures the time beforethese four friends became two revelatory other bands (Bon Iver, Megafaun). It's atale of community, vision, family, and a quartet that wanted to be too good to last. There are moments of experimentation, subtle twists in the fuzz of "Epoch" andstomping approach to covering "All Tomorrow's Parties" that lay the groundworkfor how both Bon Ver and Megafaun would turn acoustic music somewhatinside out. But much of Epoch underlines the group's unique lens for AmericanSongwriting, for taking it's patchworks, finding the chords, and singing your heartout. "Trials, Troubles and Tribulations" is one example. Best known as a buriedtreasure duet from Justin Vernon and Sharon Van Etten, it comes back to life herein sprawling, Last Waltz style, with vocals from Megafaun, Justin Vernon, FrazyFord and Fight the Big Bull. Each disc is a crash course in everything that built that specific body of music:photos from backyards and basements; essays detailing specific recordings; colorpalettes evoking time and place. At over seven hours and 55,000 words, Epoch isa maximalist collection. But you don't have to be completist to connect with whatit means to hunker down with your best friends and make things, and dream forthose things, and learn and struggle and grow.