Pitchfork

Rufus Wainwright and the death of the firstborn? Imogen Heap and locusts? Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt and flies? Scott Walker and darkness? OK, well that last one's not a total shocker.

Your family's Passover seder is about to get way cool.

Last September, British arts organization Artangel commissioned Walker, Wainwright, Eno, Robert Wyatt, Stephin Merritt, Imogen Heap, Laurie Anderson, and more to each write a song based on an assigned Biblical plague (there are ten) that takes place in the book of Exodus. Check yr history.

A festival was then held in Margate, England, transforming the town into a modern recreation of the Israelites' escape from Egypt. (WTF?) During the event, the "Plague Songs" were performed by local musicians. The entire thing was filmed, and will be broadcast and screened in the UK next year (the former on Channel 4) under the title Exodus.

The Frogs, the Boils, the Darkness, and the Locust were sadly not asked to participate.

Now, 4BC-- er, excuse us-- 4AD will release the original, star-studded recordings (formerly only available on CD at the Margate Exodus), presented in order of the plagues. These exclusive cuts make up Plague Songs, due November 7 in the U.S. and October 2 in the UK.

Tracklist:

01 Klashnekoff - "Blood" (The Plague of Blood)
02 King Creosote - "Relate the Tale" (The Plague of Frogs)
03 Stephin Merritt - "The Meaning of Lice" (The Plague of Lice)
04 Brian Eno & Robert Wyatt - "Flies" (The Plague of Flies)
05 Laurie Anderson - "The Fifth Plague" (The Death of Livestock)
06 Cody ChesnuTT - "Boils" (The Plague of Boils")
07 Tiger Lillies - "Hailstones" (The Plague of Hail)
08 Imogen Heap - "Glittering Cloud" (The Plague of Locusts)
09 Scott Walker - "Darkness" (The Plague of Darkness)
10 Rufus Wainwright - "Katonah" (The Death of the Firstborn)