All Delighted People

At sixty minutes, Sufjan Stevens' All Delighted People hardly qualifies as an EP, but the enigmatic, indie pop superstar has never been one to stick with the format. Book-ended by two distinct versions of the considerable title cut (eleven and eight minutes long, respectively), which is a self-described "dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and Paul Simon's `The Sounds of Silence," the eight-track set proves successful in melding Stevens' precious indie folk with the circular, avant/electro-classical persona he adopted for 2009's ambitious BQE. As per usual, the record is immaculately crafted, but a bit "proggy," which could serve to disappoint listeners who have been waiting patiently for the artist to return to the engaging, patchwork pop/rock of 2005's Illinoise. Fans of the quirky, less immediate moments from that album will find a great deal to love on this precursor to October's full length Age of Adz, but the emotionally charged, collegiate/spiritual nostalgia that informed his earlier works has all but dissipated. ~ James Christopher Monger