Jan St. Werner Announces Solo LP Featuring Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens
Jan St. Werner, one half of Mouse on Mars, will release the solo album 'Squares Will Fall' on November 13 via Thrill Jockey. The record includes guest contributions from Justin Vernon, Sufjan Stevens, Zach Condon, and Ben Lanz, with Vernon providing lyrics and vocals on the title track. The piece originated as a 2012 birthday composition and later evolved into an improvisation during Mouse on Mars' 'Dimensional People' sessions.
The title track's origins trace back to a 2012 birthday gift, a 30-minute composition recorded for a friend. This piece later became the basis for a collaborative improvisation between Werner and Vernon during the recording sessions for Mouse on Mars' 'Dimensional People' at Vernon's Wisconsin studio.
The album features three tracks total, including 'Swamp Brains' with vocalist Rosanne Rubino and 'Flötotto', where Stevens operates a drum machine and Lanz contributes trombone and bass. Werner previously presented the title piece at the 2021 Ural Industrial Biennial, using suspended speakers manipulated by performers to create a live mixing experience.
This cross-genre collaboration could bridge experimental electronic and mainstream indie audiences, potentially expanding the listener base for avant-garde acts like Mouse on Mars. It may also spotlight the creative synergy between distinct musical communities, encouraging fans to explore genre boundaries. The release could generate renewed interest in Werner's back catalog and reinforce Thrill Jockey's reputation as a platform for boundary-pushing artistic partnerships.