Description
Planetarium, the new collaborative album co-composed by Sufjan Stevens, Bryce Dessner, Nico Muhly and James McAlister, is set for release via 4AD. A completely reimagined version of the project originally undertaken years ago and performed in various iterations around the world, Planetarium unites Stevens vocals, McAlisters beats, Dessners guitar performance, and Muhlys instrumental compositionspart rock odyssey, part electronic experiment, part classical opus. Conceptually, Planetarium revolves around the cosmic ideas Stevens lyrics explore: mythology, astrology, science, astronomy and the intricacies of human consciousness. Stevens and McAlister worked to arrange Muhlys symphonic framework and Dessners guitar virtuosity alongside their own lyrics and beats. Stevens became the driver behind the song part of the song cycle, his unique voice providing a clear and coherent center of gravity for the whole project.