Bon Iver @ Playhouse, Edinburgh, 28 Sep

The ornate Edinburgh Playhouse is the ideal venue for Justin Vernon's perfectionist tendencies; the acoustics allow each distinct musical component space to manoeuvre, nothing gets lost as layers of sound come together to make a cohesive whole.

Vernon's voice is immediately front and centre on the opener, 22 (OVER S∞∞N), echoing through the theatre as the chatty crowd come to an almost-total silence in revered appreciation. The way he controls, bends and manipulates vocals is the most impressive aspect of the whole show. Whether being utilised as an instrument in the opening few tracks from last year's 22, A Million, plumbing the emotional depths of Creature Fear and The Wolves (Act I and II), or crooning along with Calgary and Perth, Vernon's vocal acrobatics are a constant reminder of the artistic evolution that this band has gone through.

Opening act, Mikaela Davis is welcomed back on-stage with her harp for a gorgeous rendition of Flume as we head into the back half of the set. The band are pitch perfect throughout, with S. Carey and Mike Lewis adding valuable backing harmonies and stellar drums/saxophone/bass.

Tonight's setlist is predictably heavy on 22, A Million, with that album accounting for more than half of the total set. Elsewhere, however, there is a distinct lack of For Emma, Forever Ago, leading to some murmuring audience discontent at the omission of classics like Team, re:stacks and Skinny Love.

Vernon's vocal prowess and technical abilities are best displayed on the encore performance of Woods, which features a solo Vernon building the track live from about ten vocal loops, each just different enough to create a sense of beautifully flawed perfection. Overall, the show is immacutely executed, but a little on the short side (around 1 hour 20 minutes) and you can't help but feel that there was an extra gear that could've been reached with a few more tracks.