‰Û÷Carrie & Lowell‰۪, his first album in almost 5 years, has been called ‰ÛÏThe best record Sufjan Stevens has ever made‰ by The Guardian. It is somewhat of a return to the sparse, pared-back sounds of ‰Û÷Seven Swans‰۪ and, whilst it sound like a memory, it does not trade on pastiche or nostalgia. Each song begins with a fragile melody that gathers steam until it becomes nothing less than a modern hymn.
The album accomplishes the rare thing that any art should achieve, particularly in these noisy and fragmented days - by seeking to understand, Sufjan makes us feel less alone.