Sufjan Stevens has revealed his first single to be taken from his forthcoming new album ‘Carrie & Lowell’. Whilst his album trailer suggested a possible return to his folk roots, the new single No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross makes it clear from the start with a fragile acoustic melody that gently builds that he has made that return – he sounds all the richer for it, listen below:
Asthmatic Kitty Records will host local listening parties with independent record stores and venues between now and mid-March. See below for details and visit http://www.carrieandlowell.com/listen for further announcements.
To celebrate the release the album, Stevens will tour North America beginning in April will also headline the End of the Road festival this September.
Carrie & Lowell was recorded by Stevens alongside Casey Foubert, Laura Veirs, Nedelle Torrisi, Sean Carey, Ben Lester and Thomas Bartlett and mixed by Stevens, Bartlett and Pat Dillet. Thematically the 11 songs address life and death, love and loss, and the artist’s struggle to make sense of the beauty and ugliness of love. The album is named for Stevens’ mother and stepfather.
SUFJAN STEVENS LISTENING PARTIES
21-22 February Tokyo Shinkiba Studio Coast with Hostess Club Weekender
5 March Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis Museum of Art with Indy CD & Vinyl
10 March – all venues below
London Rough Trade East
Nottingham Rough Trade
Bristol Rise
Dublin Tower/Douglas Hyde Gallery
Hamburg Michelle
Berlin Bis Auf Messe