Since the brilliance of Illinois in 2005, we’ve heard almost nothing from Sufjan Stevens. Sure, he put out some Christmas songs and that weird BQE business, but this is the guy who wrote “Come On! Feel the Illinoise” and “Casmir Pulaski Day.” We’re looking for something huge. Though perhaps not quite as huge as his 50 States project, the goal of which was to record an album for each American state (he’s got 48 to go, Michigan was released in  2003).

That project is apparently on hold, but today it emerged in an interview with The National’s Bryce Dessner that Stevens is at work on a new album.

Dessner said that the band had contributed to some of Stevens’ new material, and said that while the new album is different from Sufjan’s previous work, “It’s going to be incredible. It’s going to probably blow people’s minds.” That’s a strong endorsement, and the fact that this was mentioned at all is an indication that Sufjan is close to being finished with the new record.

There have been criminally few other facts about whatever he might be recording now, but this interview is just enough to shoot this album to close to the top of my “most-anticipated” list this year.

[Via Exclaim!]