Big Thief Steals Listener’s Hearts With Latest Release

Big Thief -In Harmony / photo by Alexa Viscius /courtesy of Pitch Perfect PR

Originating from the great borough of Brooklyn, Big Thief is a four person indie rock band with folk roots. Composed of members Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, Max Oleartchik and James Krivchenia, the band formed in 2015 following their graduation from Berklee College of Music. Their latest album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You was released in February of this year.

Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You / Album Cover Art / courtesy of Pitch Perfect PR

To create the album, the band chose to write and record a number of tracks over four recording sessions held in Upstate New York, Topanga Canyon, The Rocky Mountains, and Tucson, Arizona. After five months of recording, the band was left with forty-five completed songs, which eventually became the twenty tracks that make up the album today. 

To kick off the setlist is the song “Change,” which is of a soft sound, comparable to the lilting of late Fleetwood Mac tracks.  Recorded in the Colorado Rockies, it’s the result of the band’s first take playing through the track together, and producers capturing it  to become what you hear on the album.  

A plethora of hand drums and guitar chords takes over with a rush of volume in the second track , “Time Escaping.” Listeners enter an entirely new world with this track, as hearing the lyrics of the title being sung feel like a trip down Alice’s rabbit hole to a destination well worth exploring. 

Big Thief Band Meeting /photo by Josh Goleman /courtesy of Pitch Perfect PR

 “Heavy Bend,” the shortest track on the album, creates a similar sound as “Time Escaping”, and lyrics like “wanna hold you tight don’t wanna pretend” show realism, taking a deeper look into feelings around those we love.

The folk influence in Big Thief’s music shines through much of the album, continuing into songs like “Dried Roses” and “Red Moon”, where you can’t help but feel as though you are listening to a live show.  The first big break in that easy folk sound comes on the track “Blurred View.” A rock infused sound with what seems like a hint of techno loops controls the melody, as the vocals carry a reverberated sound, as if listeners are in the presence of eerie echoes. 

A Big Thief Spring/ photo by Alexa Viscius / courtesy of Pitch Perfect PR

 “Simulation Swarm”, holds powerful lyrics,  while  “Love Love Love” seems to start in mid-sentence, as one begins to  start over again. While inquisitive minds would love to know the secret behind this choice, it’s worth it to note that the guitar solo three quarters of the way through is infectious for dancing along.  

To close off the album is “Blue Lightning”, which is arguably the most unexpected sound on the track from this band.  Just as you think you hear a hint of an electric guitar, a banjo-esque instrument breaks onto the scene with a classic country sound, and vocalists perform with a bit of “country twang” when holding notes out a bit longer.  While vastly different from what has been heard on the previous tracks, this song may take a second to get acclimated, but is still just as eccentric and fun to listen to as all the others.