Sufjan Stevens releases first track from fourth volume of Convocations album "Celebration VIII"

26 April 2021, 15:32 | Written by Cerys Kenneally

(News)

(Sufjan Stevens)

Sufjan Stevens has delivered new instrumental "Celebration VIII" today (26 April), which is also a first glimpse of the fourth volume of his huge Convocations album.

After having already released three parts of his five-volume album Convocations so far (Revelations, Meditations and Lamentations), Stevens has shared "Celebration VIII" as the latest preview of Convocations, which is also a first taster of the Celebrations volume of the album.

Although Stevens has only released "Celebration VIII" today, Asthmatic Kitty appear to have shared "Celebration III" on Bandcamp, which might be a mistake.

Convocations by Sufjan Stevens

Convocations will follow Stevens' 2020 album The Ascension, and is an homage to his biological father, who died just two days after the release of Stevens' last album.

49 tracks will appear on Convocations, which will be split into five "sonic cycles" - Meditations, Lamentations, Revelations, Celebrations and Incantations - with each one described as "replicating a different stage of mourning".

"Celebration VIII" is out now. Sufjan Stevens' Convocations album will be released in full on 6 May via Asthmatic Kitty, and is available to pre-order now.