Bon Iver (the project of Justin Vernon) shared two new songs, “Hey Ma” and “U (Man Like),” via lyric videos for each track. They also announced some new tour dates and launched a new website (www.icommai.com). The songs feature a slew of special guests, including Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak and Flock of Dimes, Moses Sumney, and Bruce Hornsby. We were torn between the two, but settled on “U (Man Like)” as our favorite of the two, with “Hey Ma” an honorable mention below.
Vernon had this to say in a press release: “This project began with a single person, but throughout the last 11 years, the identity of Bon Iver has bloomed and can only be defined by the faces in the ever growing family we are.”
The official musician credits on “Hey Ma” are: Ben Lester – CP-70 Electric Piano. Psymun – Sampling. Justin Vernon – Matrix 6, Guitar. Brian Moen – Drums. Jenn Wasner – Voice, Guitar. Jake Luppen – Guitar. Buddy Ross – Synth. Rob Moose – Violin, Viola, String Arrangement, Worm Crew Arrangement, Conductor. Brad Cook – Basses. Worm Crew – Horns.
The official musician credits on “U (Man Like)” are: “Justin Vernon – Bass + Voice. Bruce Hornsby – Piano, Voice. Phil Cook – Piano and B3, Voice. Elsa Jensen – Voice. Moses Sumney – Voice. Jenn Wasner – Voice. Rob Moose – Violin, Viola, Octave Viola, String Arrangement, Worm Crew Arrangement. Worm Crew – Horns. Brooklyn Youth Chorus + Bryce Dessner – Choral.”