CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE MUSICAL THESIS PLAYLIST 

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews are not about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis. 

I have been following the career of Sufjan Stevens for more than 10 years now. Throughout every twist and turn in the road, I have always applauded his courage. He takes risks others wouldn’t dare attempt. He makes brave genre and stylistic choices. Aporia, his collaboration with Lowel Brams, an electronic and experimental artist who has been recording music since the mid-'80s, represents another profound step away from the expected.  

Aporia possesses no lyrics to decode. There are no words to decipher. Any meaning you find in this record is yours alone. This is one of those things I adore about electronic music. It exists on another existential plain. In the wordless expanse, you are invited to meditate, get lost, and allow the mind to wander. In the things left unsaid, your mind will naturally find itself possessed on a single thought or jumping freely from one idea to the next. In a world so loud, dominating, and crushing, this feels freeing and inviting, which is exactly what I would invite you to do with this album. Free yourself of your expectations, sit, listen, and allow yourself space to explore.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan

This website exists because of readers and supporters. If what you just read made you smile, please consider supporting the website with a monthly gift. Your support means everything and proves to the world that original content still matters.