Appalachia Borealis

Description

In autumn 2022, Phil Cook (Megafaun, Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger) was living alone in a small house on the edge of the fields and woods in North Carolina. He began leaving his window ledge slightly ajar each night, so that the chorus of birds at dawn would greet him. He then started recording these birdsongs, and gradually joined in with them. When the sun was finally up, he would listen to the day's recordings and improvise in real-time on the piano. In 2024, Phil returned to Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley, where he grew up. He asked Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), his long-time friend and collaborator, to produce Appalachia Borealis. Things became more complicated as they experimented with the process. Vernon would add or remove birdsongs in Phil's headphones, to see how they would influence his playing. Appalachia Borealis is a deeply poignant and personal collection of 11 piano meditations, built with the emotional range of a full and open existence. Inspired by these improvisations with the birds, it reflects not only the turmoil and sadness of a difficult period for Cook, but also the hope, light, and joy of looking to the other side.