Back in November, we told you about a forthcoming Sufjan Stevens tribute featuring Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Stevens' Asthmatic Kitty labelmate DM Stith. Entitled 'Seven Swans Reimagined', the record is, as you would imagine, a reinterpretation of Stevens' 2004 album 'Seven Swans', filled with interesting covers and extended with new versions of three B-sides.
Now, the whole thing is available to stream via bandcamp.com, a site which Sufjan has used liberally over the last year. Check out Joshua James' rendition of 'To Be Alone With You' and Wakey! Wakey!'s take on 'Size Too Small' for two of the album's highlights.
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Of the project Bonnie 'Prince' Billy mastermind Will Oldham says, "I can’t for the life of me remember how or where I came upon SEVEN SWANS. It was in my possession by the early aughts, and on tour each night I’d smoke a bowl deep and lay in my sleeping bag and listen to 'Transfiguration'. I've never listened to another of Stevens' records. I'm not sure about the source of the faith expressed in the lyrics of the record. In the end it doesn't matter; it's just music. 'Trees Clap' is a quiet introduction. I could not try "Transfiguration" as I find the rendition on SEVEN SWANS to be flawless. It was very special to work with Daniel Smith (Danielson) on the recording of our rendition of "All the Trees of the field will clap their hands."
The full track list for 'Seven Swans Reimagined' is as follows:
01 Bonnie "Prince" Billy: "All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands"
02 The Gregory Brothers: "The Dress Looks Nice on You"
03 Derek Webb: "In the Devil's Territory"
04 Joshua James: "To Be Alone With You"
05 Damion Suomi: "Abraham"
06 Unwed Sailor: "Sister"
07 Wakey!Wakey!: "Size Too Small"
08 Elin Smith: "We Won't Need Legs to Stand"
09 DM Stith: "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"
10 Half-Handed Cloud: "He Woke Me Up Again"
11 Carl Hauck: "Seven Swans"
12 David Crowder*Band: "The Transfiguration"
13 Jason Harrod: "I Went Dancing With My Sister" (B-side)
14 Shannon Stephens: "Waste of What Your Kids Won't Have" (B-side)
15 Inlets: "Borderline" (B-side)
Sufjan Stevens is set to visit Dublin for two live dates in the Olympia Theatre on May 17th and 18th.