Nearly five years after the release of Come on Feel The Illinois, Sufjan Stevens is recording a new album in Brooklyn, at Bryce Dressner of the National’s studio. Stevens recently teamed up with the National to supply backing vocals on “Afraid of Everyone,” and made a guest appearance during their Letterman performance. According to Dressner, the National have “been listening to some of the stuff as he’s been working on it,” and “it’s going to be incredible. It’s going to probably blow people’s minds.” Not only is Stevens recording in Dressner’s studio, but it’s being reported that the National will make an appearance on a handful of tracks as well. This news may come as a relief to Stevens fans. Following the release of The BQE, his 2009 conceptual homage to the New York expressway, Stevens was quoted in Paste magazine as saying “I no longer really have faith in the album anymore. I no longer have faith in the song.” Either way, let’s be glad he’s finally trumped his self-described “existential creative crisis.” Click through to check out Stevens singing backup vocals during the National’s staggering performance of “Afraid of Everyone.”