In 2005, after learning the east coast Hip Hop canon like the back of my hand, a friend of mine in college (now currently working for Filter magazine) gave me two notable albums: Arcade Fire’s “Neon Bible” and Sufjan Stevens “Illinoise”.
At first, I didn’t understand Neon Bible, therefore I shrugged it off. The other album on the other hand, changed something within my mind, a mind recently submerged in the lyrical prowess of Big L, and the Americana roadside tales of Bob Dylan.
Sufjan claims his home as a flagship artist on the Asthmatic Kitty label. His latest known project included Stevens premiering a new project titled The BQE in early November 2007. The project, described as a “symphonic and cinematic exploration of New York City’s infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway“, was translated to a live setting. The BQE featured an original film by Stevens (shot in Super 8 mm film and standard 16Â mm), while Stevens and a backing orchestra provided the live soundtrack. The performance used 36 performers which included a small band, a wind and brass ensemble, string players, horn players, and hula hoopers.
Here’s a recording of what they were up to:
He plans to record an album of all the 50 states in the US. So far he has two down. We at Limite wish you luck, Suf.
For more information on Sufjan, visit Asthmatic Kitty to purchase his catalog.
