Photo by D.L. Anderson
DeYarmond Edison, the influential early band featuring Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon alongside Phil Cook, Brad Cook, and Joe Westerlund of Megafaun, is set to release a comprehensive box set titled Epoch. The highly anticipated 5xLP and 4xCD set, slated for August 18 via Jagjaguwar, are a treasure trove of 83 recordings, including a multitude of previously unreleased songs. Adding to the allure, the box set boasts an impressive 60,000-word collection of liner notes penned by renowned executive producer Grayson Haver Currin.
The journey through Epoch commences with the musicians’ first album, All of Us Free, comprising previously unreleased tracks and music circulated in limited physical editions. This remarkable compilation includes material from their early band Mount Vernon, as well as their self-recorded debut as DeYarmond Edison Quartet, a captivatingly raw endeavor conducted in the nude within the confines of a church. The box set’s second LP unveils Silent Signs, receiving its inaugural vinyl pressing. The third LP, Epoch, etc., encapsulates the band’s music crafted between 2005 and their subsequent dissolution the following year.
Fans can get a taste of the box set with the release of DeYarmond Edison’s “As Long as I Can Go” and Cook and Vernon’s “Feel the Light,” both now available on digital platforms. Additionally, a captivating lyric video for “Bones” accompanies the announcement. Each of the box’s five LPs comes adorned with an essay and a unique symbol representing the evolving dynamics within the band during that particular era.
Beyond these milestones, the expansive collection features Vernon’s solo recordings predating Bon Iver’s acclaimed For Emma, Forever Ago, alongside Megafaun’s initial rehearsal tapes and recordings captured during DeYarmond Edison’s various reunions. Notably, it also encompasses recordings from their transformative Bickett Gallery residency in Raleigh, N.C., as well as a mesmerizing 2006 concert at the historic Mabel Tainter Theater in Menomonie, Wis.
Embark on an immersive sonic voyage and unprecedented glimpse into the band’s formative years and artistic evolution, unveiling hidden treasures and the profound talent of its members below.
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