At the junction of two infinities, what has been lost and what awaits?
‘Double Infinity’, the sixth album from Big Thief, presents a heartfelt, expansive investigation into the past, present, and future. The narrative unfolds beyond conventional chronological order, weaving together moments and memories, people and places that influence Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, and James Krivchenia throughout the album’s nine tracks. While it is simpler than the band’s extensive, 20-track ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You’, it remains equally insightful, particularly regarding themes of time, location, love, and loss.
The concept of a double infinity on the album – the merging of distinct paths – traces back to the Power Station in New York City, where Big Thief convened with other local musicians, including Laraaji, June Mcdoom, Caleb Michel, and Hannah Cohen, culminating in a collective of thirteen. Over three weeks in January, this blend of diverse lives and musical styles was given the opportunity to resonate together, creating a distinctive mix of percussion, vocals, and acoustics that energizes the project. At times, it’s difficult to discern who is creating which shimmering sound. However, that’s precisely the point.
The opening single, ‘Incomprehensible’, ventures into the past. Here, we first experience the band’s unity, enhanced by the unique acoustic environment of The Power Station, further highlighting why Adrianne Lenker is often regarded as a generational talent. Reflecting on a time when she was seventeen and wishing away hours, Lenker is suddenly yanked back to the present, revealing to listeners, “in two days it’s my birthday and I’ll be 33.” We feel this leap through time, but in this revisit of the past, Big Thief and their musician community act as caring, gentle guides: “I’m afraid of getting older, that’s what I’ve learned to say. Society has given me the words to think that way,” Lenker confesses. Yet, by showcasing the graceful aging of her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, we are reminded that aging need not be uncomfortable or feared, contrary to societal beliefs. The reality, as often explored in Lenker’s songwriting, is that we should remain incomprehensible – embracing our complexity without the need for clear understanding or categorization.
Similarly, ‘Words’ wrestles with language, but where clarity emerged in ‘Incomprehensible’, here words betray the band. “Words are tired and tense, Words don’t make sense,” Adrianne Lenker sings alongside the trembling backing vocals of Alena Spanger, Hannah Cohen, June McDoom, and Laraaji. It’s refreshing, even celebratory, in acknowledging the limitations of language. These unshackling lyrics are buoyed by powerful expression and incisive guitar solos.
An endearing burst of laughter, presumably from Big Thief’s new collaborators, begins ‘Los Angeles’, introducing a sense of liberation that lasts for just under four minutes. Back in ‘Incomprehensible’, we hear Lenker confront the future, where “the only thing I’ll keep are the letters and the photographs.” Now in ‘Los Angeles’, the “picture box is full” – a symbol of time gone by and memories accumulated. The single, crafted by the trio of Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek, and James Krivchenia, reflects on a past romantic relationship that has evolved into friendship.
As illustrated in ‘Words’, language frequently falls short. We often become victims of the inexpressibility of a current situation – such as an argument we don’t have the time to digest or respond to. “We don’t need to talk about that now,” Lenker states in ‘Los Angeles.’ The album ‘Double Infinity’ pays tribute to the intricate endlessness of relationships, reminding us that it would be naive to dwell solely on the past. By embracing the future and remaining aligned with the development of relationships, Adrianne Lenker sings of reuniting with a person who is now a best friend, “like a soldier at the gate in tears.”
Many of the album’s lyrics present contrasts or pairings, reflecting the broader theme of double infinity and the ebb and flow of infinite possibilities. The sorrow and regret of lost love are gently countered with the hope and future of friendship in ‘Los Angeles’. This idea carries into ‘All Night All Day’, a celebration of love’s potency. “Swallow poison swallow sugar, sometimes they taste the same, but I know your love is neither,” they harmonize.
Big Thief’s sound is profoundly heightened on this album. Ambient legend Laraaji contributed drones using a zither and an iPad, delivering vocal melodies that significantly enrich the project, especially on the six-minute ‘Grandmother’. Adrianne Lenker’s voice is commanding, assuring us “we’re all insane, we are made of love, we are also
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At the intersection of two infinities, what has been lost and what remains in anticipation? 'Double Infinity,' the sixth album by Big Thief, presents a heartfelt and expansive experience.