Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens has shared a remixed version of his track Blue Bucket Of Gold. Describing the remix as a nod to the live version performed on Stevens’ tour, the track was recorded with his touring band between studios in Brooklyn and Portland. The final song off his latest album Carrie & Lowell, in its original form, it is a beautifully aching moment reflecting the minimalistic approach that pervades the record.

The remix has a sharper edge than the original, with programmed beats and a return to electronica elements. Losing nothing of its heartbreaking feel, the sweetness of the original is transposed into a trip-hop infused ambience. Building out the track, throbbing bass driven synths and shimmering effects create a much bigger sound than the stripped back sensibility of Carrie & Lowell. The slow beat build is easily imagined in a live context, and you can hear how this version of Blue Bucket Of Gold could impressively fill out venues.

Also having showcased an upbeat version of All Of Me Wants All Of You on his recent UK tour, Stevens will be embarking on a second tour with Carrie & Lowell. Dates have now been announced, check out the details here for his Australian shows if you need to hear these tracks live!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36iHy42s1Y0]

Just announced as a headliner at Sydney’s upcoming Vivid LIVE, Sufjan Stevens has also released the third song from upcoming album Carrie and Lowell. It follows on from his last single, Should Have Known Better, and the one before that, No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross

Carrying the same name as the album, Carrie and Lowell starts off with Stevens’ signature nimble guitar plucking and ethereal voice. The sound of waves enters as background music, giving the song that magical, mystical feeling, an atmosphere that carries through much of his music. Once again this song hints at the fact that Sufjan has returned to his classic indie psych folk style, with the three releases from Carrie and Lowell sounding more like Seven Swans than any of his subsequent albums.

You can listen to Carrie and Lowell below, or here on BBC Radio 6, tune in at 33 minutes.

It has been a long five years since Sufjan Stevens last released an album, but Carrie and Lowell is finally (almost) here. Stevens’ seventh album is set to be released on March 31st and we can’t wait.

Should Have Known Better is the second track from the upcoming album and I can’t stop listening to it. After a brief departure from his classic folk sound into a more electronic environment, he seems to have stepped back a bit to his more traditional style – and I for one am incredibly excited about it. This song is really similar to the sound that Stevens gave us with his 2004 album, Seven Swans and to me this is the “real Sufjan Stevens sound.”

Should Have Known Better embodies his lo-fi psych folk vibe. His voice is as ethereal as ever and the acoustic guitar in this song is really twangy, almost like a banjo. Sweetly melancholic, the track is somewhat reminiscent of Elliott Smith.

If you love old school Sufjan, you’ll be happy to see that he has returned to his roots with this tune, hopefully the rest of the album is just as beautiful.

Carrie & Lowell Tracklist:
01. Death With Dignity
02. Should Have Known Better
03. All of Me Wants All of You
04. Drawn to the Blood
05. Fourth of July
06. The Only Thing
07. Carrie & Lowell
08. Eugene
09. John My Beloved
10. No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross
11. Blue Bucket of Gold

I don’t really remember how I got into Sufjan Stevens way back when, but I do remember that Illinoise blew my mind in 2005. It ended up being one of those albums I had to buy a second copy of because the first copy got scratched up from too much play. I’d never heard such beautiful, delicate music that dealt with such odd, random and at times incredibly dark subject matters. I promptly immersed myself in his back catalogue, and the utter quirk and sublime non-innocence that is Sufjan formed a love bubble that remains un-popped to this day.

He recently announced that his first album in five years, Carrie & Lowell, is set for a march 31 release. This news got me incredibly excited, despite the fact that I pretty much never listen to folk anymore. Like, ever. But he’s dropped the first tune off it, and I can safely say that I love it, and that it basically brought me to tears. Which is what is supposed to happen when you listen to Sufjan Stevens.

Take a listen here:

I love that it’s old and new. It’s familiar and welcoming and warm – but it’s also new and vibrant in his own way, and full of fresh heartbreak. Tiny vocal soars and perfectly employed harmonies dance around the guitar plucks. Ending rather abruptly at 2:39, I’m not sure if this is only half the song or not, but I’m definitely feeling a lot more emotional than I was three minutes ago.

Here’s the full trailer for the new album (because albums have trailers now):

And here’s the full tracklisting:

Carrie & Lowell Tracklist:
01. Death With Dignity
02. Should Have Known Better
03. All of Me Wants All of You
04. Drawn to the Blood
05. Fourth of July
06. The Only Thing
07. Carrie & Lowell
08. Eugene
09. John My Beloved
10. No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross
11. Blue Bucket of Gold

Anyway, going to go cuddle a stuffed bear and cry into my pillow now.