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James Blake and Bon Iver’s “I Need a Forest Fire” Video is Surreal

The lush post-dubstep of James Blake and the plaintive folk music of Bon Iver are hardly obvious candidates for collaboration—at least on the surface. Consider the golden voices that helm each project, though (Blake and Justin Vernon, respectively), and now you’ve got something to work with. The two entities have collaborated to make beautiful music before, most notably on the last track of Blake’s Enough Thunder EP, “Fall Creek Boys Choir.” Vernon’s band features again on Blake’s new surprise LP, The Colour in Anything, on the track, “I Need a Forest Fire.”

“So proud of my brother James Blake dropping the bigness tonight,” tweeted Vernon on the night of the record release, as DIY reported. “Also, so proud of our song ForestFire came from wonderful accidents and good friendship.”

Today Blake shared a video for the JB/Bon Iver joint. The nearly four-minute clip shows a moon-like light orbiting a collection of abstract art pieces. At the outset, the three-dimensional works are broken statues and rusted pieces of metal, all cast in a pallid light. Little by little, the chalky patina of the art is worn away. The orbiting light glows warmer and the objects become more biological. Wolves and butterflies become focal points, and, eventually, birds are seen flying around a giant sun-like orb. This is Blake’s metaphor for rebirth. He “needs a forest fire” to wash away the grime and breathe in new life. And if anything can do that, it’s the voices of Blake and Vernon in concert.

In one last playful tweet, Vernon acknowledged Blake’s prowess as singer/producer extraordinaire.

Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments.

IMAGE: Artists

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