In the current year, there is no better soundtrack to a comfy night curled up by the fireplace than the adorable output of New York band Big Thief. The group are an ever-reliable pair of hands in the indie folk scene, with their 2022 magnum opus ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’ standing as one of the most celebrated releases of that year. Faced with the task of following that record up, Big Thief have returned to their more typical trappings on new album ‘Double Infinity’— this may not be the group’s boldest or most unique album, but the quality of these nine tracks speaks for itself regardless.

Compared to the sheer variety of soundscapes the group were toying with on their last release, Big Thief have scaled things back this time around: ‘Double Infinity’ is extremely easy listening, as Lenker and company have dialled in some truly lush, inviting arrangements. Listening to a song like ‘Incomprehensible,’ it seems effortless to sink into the layers of instrumentation the band assemble, building the track from a simple country ballad into a meditative piece, full of gentle percussion and easily-missed accompaniments. Big Thief regularly employ a host of drones and other sonic textures across the album— just see the rather unique solo on ‘Words’ for a prime example— though the songs retain their humble appearance nonetheless: there’s a delicate balance to be struck between elegant simplicity and auditory adventure, and it’s one that ‘Double Infinity’ walks like a tightrope act. 

Of course, some of this praise is standard for the likes of Big Thief, as Lenker’s vocals continue to be as honest and characterful as ever: her solo releases have only heightened the notoriety of her lyrics (as we’ll be sure to gush over in due course), though special note should also be taken of how wonderfully the singer performs them. It’s also heartwarming to see bassist Joshua Crumbly given so much of a spotlight after longtime member Max Oleartchik left the group last year— his playing provides a gorgeous cushion supporting each soundscape, coming into its own on ‘Happy with You.’ Behind every serene arrangement on the album, you can bet that guitarist Buck Meek and drummer James Krivchenia are working their usual magic: ‘Double Infinity’ is, before anything else, supremely comfy.

This lovely presentation lends itself to a number of adorable tunes: once again, these tracks may be fairly safe, but their charm manages to carry them through again and again. Single ‘All Night All Day’ brings one of the catchiest hooks on the entire record, standing out against this particularly minimalist arrangement— the following title track has a similarly memorable melody to it, making this one of the most endearing country-adjacent releases you could hope to stumble into this year. Throughout ‘Double Infinity,’ Big Thief have hidden several reminders of ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You:’ that might be a problem if the band hadn’t recaptured that record’s magic. ‘No Fear’ is a somewhat uneasy number, skulking its way across a lengthy seven-minute runtime, propelled by a decidedly withdrawn vocal showing from Lenker: it’s a beautiful contrast against the positively loveable closer ‘How Could I Have Known,’ which harkens back to the feel-good energy of a song like ‘Blue Lightning’ in only the best of ways.

Now, the group do produce a few hiccups across the album, even despite how comfortable the band sound in this style. Though no cut on the record is fast by any stretch of the imagination, it’s ‘Los Angeles’ that steps a little too close to lethargic: the song is endearing, certainly, but winds up as something of a lull in the tracklist because of just how safe it is. ‘Happy with You’ is, similarly, a little taxing, though that’s really only a fault of the repetitive vocal writing across the track— this might have been better left as an instrumental cut, given that every element other than Lenker’s voice is continually seeking to steal the show. We’d also be remiss not to mention Laraaji’s additions to ‘Grandmother’ as well: simply put, we could’ve done without the warbled vocals that mar an otherwise solid inclusion.

But of course, no Big Thief review would be complete without a reflection on Adrianne Lenker’s lyrical showings: the woman is a modern day wordsmith, crafting tales that read like poetry, yet settle into the album completely seamlessly. Lead single ‘Incomprehensible’ demonstrates just how effectively Lenker is able to transform a song, diving deep into a passionate love of life and the wonderful experiences it can have in store.

“My mother and my grandma, my great-grandmother too

Wrinkle like the river, sweeten like the dew

And as silver as the rainbow scales that shimmer purple-blue

How can beauty that is living be anything but true?”

Not every song on ‘Double Infinity’ is quite so forthcoming in its optimism, but there is an ever-present feeling of light, of belonging, of hope that rings out across the album: Lenker’s musings on love (perhaps the most cliché of song topics) feel effortlessly visceral and relatable, as if they were written at the moment of one’s first kiss. If there is criticism to be levied at Big Thief, it’s simply that not every track here gets to revel in such beautiful storytelling— whenever Lenker puts pen to paper, magic happens.

“Swallow poison, swallow sugar

Sometimes they taste the same

But I know your love is neither

And love is just a name”

‘Double Infinity’ is not the most definitive Big Thief record, nor is it one of their more adventurous: what it is, by contrast, is really quite sweet. Though some critics may be disappointed to be see the band playing things so safe this time around, others might see just how layered and evocative the group’s latest work is— the album is a simple pleasure, and that’s good enough for us.