Sufjan Stevens at The Barbican, 4/11/2006

Flights of Fancy

BY ANNA TRAVIS

Legendary for his plans to write an album for each of the 50 U.S. states, Sufjan Stevens is two landmarks down the line with Michigan (2003) and Illinois (2005). But alongside this epic journey, the self-taught musician has recently found time to reroute and ruminate with childlike wonder on two other deceptively straightforward concepts: Christmas and Birds, dedicating an entire album to each and an airing of their highlights on a European tour.

Chrysalis-like he emerges onto The Barbican stage with his ‘band of butterflies.’ The tribe set the dazzling theatrical tone of the evening with their feathered masks and kite style wings. This is a white, Sun-Ra Arkestra, led by a Michigan born Christian who sings of family and faith, instead of outer space. Sufjan’s still wants to reach a metaphysical plane, but does so via earthly elegies to the majesty of urban America

The set opener is the first of his persistent evocations of flight. In The Transfiguration from Seven Swans, Sufjan is king bird at his piano. He sings in hushed awe of Christ’s appearance on a mountaintop. Such seriousness centre stage jars magically with the secular Gods piled up either side; a stockpile of inflatable Santa’s and Supermen.

Next up is the academic minimalism of Michigan. The five-strong brass backing create a Mariachi take on Steve Reich, the metronomic precision stressed in the stunning skyscraper footage. The grand conductor of his own Americana then takes flight into the pastoral realm of The Predatory Wasp. The countryside nostalgia continues with dry childhood tales of the competitive hell that is Summer Camp. The companion piece is the rendition of John Wayne Gacy Jr, as unbearably poignant as a lament for senseless child murder can only ever be. To ‘lighten the mood’, as Sufjan puts it, the inflatable Santa’s are let lose, ironically bouncing and squeaking their way around the theatre to the new tune of 'That Was the Worst Xmas Ever'.

Fragile, male/female counterpoint vocals punctuate most of the set. A dizzying highpoint is 'Seven Swans', achieving the spine chilling power of Low at their pious best. The air then fills up with an evangelical-jazz-wig-out-crescendo of ‘I am Lords’. The leitmotif of ornithology swoops down again with a future classic Majesty Snowbird, from the forthcoming birdlife album. This is clearly a man attached to his themes.

The valedictory refrain of ‘all things go’ from 'Chicago', feels like Sufjan’s signature line. It charts the flight away from pastoral ‘freedom from the land’ is the plaintive cry. He soundtracks the inspiring pull back to the urban realm of skyscrapers, rolling tarmac and subways, the cinematic backdrop to the show’s climax. A standing ovation brought the modest bandleader back with city tales of tentative dates, cars, bossy girls and the sensuality of The Dress Looks nice on you.

Lazarus turned to the skies tonight, his plastic stage wings were eventually cast off and, using only his poetic, melodic powers to ascend, he was unstoppable.