Sufjan Stevens released last Friday without any previous announcement a new EP which have 60 minutes length(!). First I was really surprised but in good way of course and I was wandering how it is. And I can frankly say it is terrific good :-)) It's my opinion and I am a big fan of Sufjan so ... ;)
This EP is sometimes epic as in "All Delighted People (Original Version)" sometimes gentle with accoustic guitars ("Heirloom") wich can reminds Simon and Garfunkel. Second track "Enchanting Ghost" start with accoustic guitar and during the time Sufjan add banjo, electric guitar and it ends along with piano and as Heirloom it evokes S & G stuffs. Next "From the Mouth of Gabriel" melds piano, chorus and quaint analog synthetizers in very fragile song and you recall on Illions. Truly beauty. The ballad "The Owl and The Tanager" passes very slowly only with piano and echoed Sufjan's voice and back female voice (I don't know who is she..). But it's very hitting lyrics and haunting melody. The most fragile song as fluffy cloud. Second "Classic Rock Version" version of "All Delighted People" is more coherently than original version. But of course the original version is piece from the heaven, a pompous heaven and it's OK. "Classic" version ends with cacophonic synthetizers which is absolutely delightful. "Arnika" sounds like old running but a little bit broken machine which still can do a excellent job. Without any shining pieces but still with strength. Last composition "Djohariah" is strictly instrumental but very well structured with many layers mainly include chorus and solo electric guitar. Piano and drums support somewhere behind of them. And what a excellent gradation. Great song! 17 minutes is shorter than you think ;-)
It's only digital release (320k mp3, FLAC) for only $5! Or you can listen whole album in streaming version which is on his
bandcamp site. In physical form as CD will be available for purchase sometimes in the autumn.
.: 8/10 :.
Tracklisting > 1 | All Delighted People (Original Version) [11:38] 2 | Enchanting Ghost [03:39] 3 | Heirloom [02:55] 4 | From The Mouth Of Gabriel [04:03] 5 | The Owl And The Tanager [06:38] 6 | All Delighted People (Classic Rock Version) [08:07] 7 | Arnika [05:13] 8 | Djohariah [17:02]
I still can not recover my mind and my ears from new-blown EP and now I found on Asthmatic Kitty website that Sufjan announced a full-length record, titled The Age Of Adz will be out October 12th. I am looking forward to his new baby so much ;) And btw. the cover is really gorgeous. Like a lot "The Day The Earth Stood Steel" on it. That it would be a reminiscence of Man of Steel :)
