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The Bible attributes the voice of God to a whisper, heard through quiet contemplation and devotion; a voice that leads not by shout or force, but by gentle wooing, as to a lover to his beloved.  Despite that, I’ve sometimes longed for God to lead me with that burning, seven-story tall pillar of fire he used to lead the Israelites through the wilderness.  Needless to say, no such bright burning pillars have yet to come crashing down through my roof to show me the way, and I’ve had to resort to the usual quiet listening to hear what it is that God really has to say.  Seven Swans is a record that anyone of any belief can enjoy for many reasons, but I believe that I’ve found a musical record specially for those times when a Christian feels like they’ve lost all contact with God, when they listen with all their might for direction but feel it eluding them- Seven Swans is often as quiet as a whisper, as outrightly spiritual as any record by a Christian can be, and at times, absolutely moving and profound; one is reminded how powerful a whisper can actually be. 

The record is alternately joyous and celebratory or sorrowful and heavy-hearted, as it expresses spiritual and emotional struggle and discontent.  Sufjan’s lyrics are one of his major strong points; he’s extremely skilled at effectively combining particular words and syllabic rhythm to the instrumentation and melody layered underneath.  Not a single lyric or musical note feels wasteful or unnecessary in any verse or chorus, and given the stripped down instrumentation and sounds of this recording, careful craftwork and accentuation of each track is even more important to keep the record interesting. 

It’s amazing how expressive this record is, given its apparent simplicity.  Tracks like “Abraham” and “Seven Swans” are built on nothing more than a few base notes for almost the entirety of the song, yet they both rank amongst the most powerful and moving moments on the whole disc.  “I saw a sign in the sky/ seven swans, seven swans, seven swans/ I heard a voice in my mind/ I will try, I will try, I will try….” Sufjan sings in the title-track, with his lone banjo plucking away the delicate melody.  The few moments where electric guitars do come in feel all the more dramatic because of their non-use in the bulk of the music.  “Sister” lulls back and forth like the gentle pull of the tide, with its crunchy guitars and feminine voices harmonizing together, then finally drops into gorgeous lyricism- “What the water wants is hurricanes/ and sailboats to ride on its back/ What the water wants is sun kiss/ and land to run into and back….”  

Stevens could be one of the most talented song writers in the business.  His songs all exude delicate thoughtfulness, a genuine sense of good melody and lyrics that build upon and accentuate the sounds being played.  Seven Swans is a top-tier indie/folk/pop release, enjoyable for everyone not because of a purposeful goal to attain accessibility but because the song writer is true to his feelings and thoughts- I could see even the most anti-religious individuals being drawn in by Sufjan’s song writing, if they allow.  Sufjan’s genuine wonder about God and Jesus’ sacrifice as expressed in Seven Swans is refreshing and uplifting, and the quiet pace and instrumentation reminded me that sometimes the most meaningful and powerful ways of finding inspiration and direction from God is by _being still_.  
 
Jonathan Avants 5/24/05