Big Thief – ‘Double Infinity’ album review: A band too inspired to misfire
“They don’t make them like they used to.” It’s a phrase we hear all too often from people who are determined to undermine the current generation’s ability to write classic albums that compete with the greats of previous decades, and Big Thief would like a word about it.
Over the course of their previous five albums, one thing that has always remained in the New York band’s output is the sheer consistency. In fact, one could make the argument that they started strong with debut album Masterpiece in 2016, and have only gone on to continually improve upon this offering, all culminating in the release of the staggeringly ambitious Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You.
A true statement piece of an album, it wasn’t going to be an easy task riding this high and coming out the other side with another record of equal grandeur, but if there’s anything that proved that there was potential to either eclipse or satisfyingly match its greatness, it’s the fact that frontwoman Adrianne Lenker was able to cushion the wait for a new release from her band with a stunningly good solo album in Bright Future.
If you’re following the guidance of someone so singular in their songwriting capabilities, and someone who is seemingly able to write the most intricately beautiful prose and musical accompaniment with relative ease, then there ought to be no cause for concern. Yes, three and a half years is a relatively long time to wait for new material from a band, and while Big Thief hadn’t left fans starving in the same way as the likes of Frank Ocean or D’Angelo might do, people need to acknowledge that in order to keep up with the same levels of perfection that have been offered before, a band needs to be afforded time to let songs gestate.
The nine songs on Double Infinity may have been ready for some time, as evidenced by the fact that the band were performing many of them at shows and festivals throughout last summer, and the immediate embrace with which they were received ought to have been enough of an early indication that the band weren’t about to dish out a dud. The fact that a 10,000 strong audience at their Green Man headline slot in 2024 were able to sing along to ‘Incomprehensible’ before it was even released kind of says it all.
Classic albums can sometimes be the ones that grow with us over time, but often, it’s those that are instantly impactful that are anointed as such with unanimous agreement. Big Thief have done this on every stop along their journey, and while they’ve evolved in some regards, eschewing the occasional scrappiness in favour of luscious new age soundscapes that are scattered across Double Infinity courtesy of their decision to collaborate with Philadelphia ambient veteran Laraaji, there’s a homeliness about every song they create.
You know in an instant that you’re listening to the work of the trio, whether that’s because of Lenker’s lyrics and whispered vocals, the textural guitar work of Buck Meek, or the tight-knit grooves of drummer James Krivchenia, and nothing about what they offer in their work feels alienating. Double Infinity is just as much of an inviting hug of a record as they’ve made, and if you’re unfamiliar with their work, it’s as good a place to start as any of their previous efforts.
Listen however you want: either put it on in the background and let it gently comfort you as you go about your day, or allow it to envelop you in all of its subtle compositional delights and the childlike wonder of Lenker’s ever-majestic world-building. Just know that they do, in fact, make them like they used to. Arguably, they’re making them better.
Defining track – ‘All Night All Day’: We all know these feelings that Lenker conveys when she writes about love and intimacy, but rarely are we ever able to put into words how sacred and holy these moments can sometimes feel, and how passion makes learning about the beauty of our lovers’ bodies something that we can truly devote our whole selves to.
For fans of: Swaddling yourself in a big comfort blanket, maybe getting the fire going, and preparing yourself for the cozy autumn months ahead.
A concluding comment from a mathematician: “Look, I’m not sure that Double Infinity works as a concept, but Adrianne Lenker’s songwriting sure is boundless, and is unlikely to ever stop being this way.”
Release Date: September 5th | Producer: Dom Monks | Label: 4AD
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