Aporia
Sufjan Stevens · 2020
42 min · 21 tracks · alternative rock
An ethereal blend of minimalist textures and introspective melodies that evokes a dreamlike state throughout its brief, contemplative tracks.
Top tracks — play these first
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Ousia Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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What It Takes — This track encapsulates the album's reflective nature with its haunting melodies and gentle harmonies, illustrating the duo's ability to create emotional resonance within a minimalist framework.
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Disinheritance — A brief yet impactful piece that conveys a sense of loss through sparse instrumentation, representing a thematic cornerstone of the album's exploration of absence and longing.
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The Red Desert — With its expansive soundscapes and meditative qualities, this track embodies the overarching themes of contemplation and connection to nature that permeate the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Aporia's ethereal sound and brief tracks create a cohesive yet experimental listening experience.
What we noticed
- The album features 21 tracks, most of which are under three minutes, creating a series of brief, contemplative pieces that flow into one another.
- Several tracks utilize minimalist instrumentation, often relying on ambient soundscapes and subtle melodies to evoke a dreamlike atmosphere.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- ethereal soundscapes for reflection
- brief meditations on existence
- contemplative melodies for solitude
- transcendent moments of connection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat, energetic tracks
- prefer longer, cohesive pieces
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Aporia represents a departure from Stevens' established sound, exploring new sonic territories.
- Career context
- Released on March 24, 2020, Aporia marks a collaborative effort between Sufjan Stevens and longtime friend Lowell Brams. This album arrives after Stevens' acclaimed work on Carrie & Lowell (2015) and reflects a quieter, more experimental phase in his career, focusing on instrumental soundscapes rather than lyrical narratives.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Iron & Wine· Andrew Bird· Fleet Foxes
Tracklist
- 1 Ousia Start here 2:33
- 2 What It Takes 3:24
- 3 Disinheritance 1:13
- 4 Agathon 3:03
- 5 Determined Outcome 2:13
- 6 Misology 1:50
- 7 Afterworld Alliance 2:47
- 8 Palinodes 0:33
- 9 Backhanded Cloud 1:26
- 10 Glorious You 1:50
- 11 For Raymond Scott 0:35
- 12 Matronymic 0:58
- 13 The Red Desert 2:54
- 14 Conciliation 1:20
- 15 Ataraxia 1:13
- 16 The Unlimited 2:14
- 17 The Runaround 3:35
- 18 Climb That Mountain 3:00
- 19 Captain Praxis 2:14
- 20 Eudaimonia 2:20
- 21 The Lydian Ring 1:03
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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