Sufjan Stevens has released an extensive new song, “America,” just in time for the country’s birthday weekend. The 12-minute track is the lead single from their upcoming album, Ascension, which will arrive on September 25 through Asthmatic Kitty.
“America” opens in a swirl of harmonized and processed electronics and voices, with Stevens pleading in the chorus, “Don’t do to me what you did to America.” The deal, reminiscent of the 2010 symphonic-sized electronic bombardment The Adz era, build with twists and turns, adding live drums, synths, and bursts of surround sound.
In a statement announcing his new album, Stevens called “America” ”a song of protest against the disease of American culture in particular.”
Ascension is the follow up of 2015 Carrie and Lowell. Earlier this year, Stevens teamed up with his stepfather, longtime collaborator and Asthmatic Kitty co-founder, Lowell Brams, to collaborate on the environmental record. Aporia. In 2017 Stevens teamed up with Nico Muhly, James McAlister and Bryce Dessner of National for the album. Planetary; That same year, she wrote the score for Justin Peck’s ballet in 2017. The decalogue, which was later recorded by Timo Anders on piano and released as an album of the same name in 2019.
While five years have passed between his own albums, Stevens released two songs for Pride Month 2019 and the single “Tonya Harding” in 2017.
