Adam KennyBig time for Big Thief
It’s been a pretty interesting past few years for Big Thief. Since 2020 lead singer and songwriter, Adrianne Lenker, released a new solo project called songs which has gone on to be incredibly well loved by fans and critics with songs like “not a lot, just forever” and several other songs from the album going viral online. Garnering quite a bit of attention for not just Lenker, but Big Thief as well. The band in 2022 went on to release their double album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You that you could argue to be the bands best. The album contained some of the best indie and folk music in years with songs like “Simulation Swarm”, “Change”, “Sparrow”. The double album was a force to be reckoned with where you could argue a case for every single song on the album. I can’t think of a double record that was this consistent since maybe Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which is mighty high praise.
Change, like the wind
The band however have since seen a lineup change. A founding member of the band and bassist, Max Oleartchik left the band in 2024 with the band citing “interpersonal reasons”. A core member now being gone, the band continue ahead as a trio with Adrianne Lenker, James Krivchenia and Buck Meek. Big Thief have come back with their new album Double Infinity, which was made with the support of several different musicians to their strengths in the making of this album. Whilst it’s not a double album, does its best to be just as grand.
The first track to start us off was actually the leading single for the album “Incomprehensible”. Lyrically, Lenker usual has left an immediate impression. Her ability to weave together small moments in life as these pivotal moments in nature is amazing. She brings you on a journey, up the river, down the mountain, crossing the fields all to get to her grandmother’s house. Her vocals throughout are just above a whisper that trails along the lyrics like dirt paths in a forest. Instrumentally, the production does a great job of creating this airy and free atmosphere. It’s all very low key, but prominent enough to stick with you throughout.
Dragon Old Born Mountain, I can hear you
“Words” is very reminiscent of Dragon New Born Mountain I Believe In You which is a treat. Adrianne’s layered vocals with some vibrant and lush instrumentals conjure some fantastic moments in the track. “Los Angeles” follows a similar formula but helps nurse some yearning with LA Nostalgia. Adrianne’s vocals are confident and strong here along with her songwriting. Lyricism is never an issue for Big Thief when Adrianne is with the pen. She just has it. That rare thing that flies past people’s head every single day that she somehow manages to hold onto. It’s incredible. For the production, it’s some basic accoustic guitar and drums to fill the the track. A great example of using very little to do a whole lot.
“All Night All Day” has one of my favourite of melodies on the album. Big Thief excel at creating this engaging, diverse and whimsical tracks that just make you feel good. The production on “All Night All Day” conveys this spectacularly well. The background vocals on the track help Lenker’s lower tone shine that much more. One draw back I do find is that this was album was supposed to be a great and grand display of musicians but I find so far it’s not that different to what Big Thief normally accomplish. I have no problem with more Big Thief as we know them, but I was expecting more direct involvement to the project to help reshape their sound as oppose to reusing it.
Limitations of infinity
“Double Infinity” the titular track, is pretty lackluster. It’s very run of the mill for Big Thief. Adrianne’s vocals are nice, but instrumentally and sonically there’s just not all that much here out. It’s not something I’d skip, but wouldn’t fight to keep on the stereo either. I share the same sentiment with “No Fear”, which is this folky psychedelic mirage that sounds like something you’d hear from an obscure 90s album that had one okay song. It’s pretty repetitive and forgettable. Not something I can see myself returning to that much outside of just putting the album itself on.
“Grandmother” has a similar sound to “No Fear” but has a much more interesting structure and cadence that has a great chorus. “Gonna turn into rock and roll” over and over with some gorgeous vocals from Laraaji whom in the past has collaborated with ambient hero and pioneer Brian Eno. There’s this meditative prayer-esque haze to the song that I found myself gravitating upon each relisten. It’s contender for being my favourite track on the album.
Straight forward, lyrically and sentimentally
“Happy With You” is a really straight forward song. Lyrically, it’s just “happy with you” over and over again whilst occasionally switching with “poison shame”. Musically, it’s a very fun track. It’s got a great rhythm, tone and groove to it. There’s not a whole lot going on lyrically, but instrumentally it’s a joy.
We come to the final track of Double Infinity with “How Could I Have Known” which is a beautiful song. The background voices that go in hand with Adrianne’s voice sounds brings this community spirit to the track. Sounding like what the main characters in a small town cowboy movie would drive away in their pickup truck to. A fitting and gorgeous end to the album.
Overall
Double Infinity had a lot to live up to, whilst at times it came to a lull and struggled to put together something new, you can forgive the now trio for leaning into their strengths as opposed to trying to find new ones on this album. The song writing is as strong as you’d expect, but unexpectedly weak at times too but not to the point of dragging a song down like with “Happy With You”. Double Infinity is a great album for Big Thief to come back after 3 years, but I do hope that their next one marks a more experimental endeavour.
