Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You (Album Review)
Friday, 18 February 2022
Written by Rebecca Llewellyn
Photo: Josh Goleman
Flourishing in all their eclectic flair, Big Thief prove themselves to be genre-less and free spirited on their fifth studio album ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’.
Distinctly different from previous releases, here the four-piece relish their quirks even more so than usual by putting their own spin on country across a marathon double LP totalling 20 tracks and 80 minutes.
But, despite this unwieldy running time, one can never be certain of which direction the band will veer in next, ensuring an exciting ride.
‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’ harnesses, for the most part, an old sort of homespun charm, packed full of plucky banjo strings and warbling bluesy melodies.
Tracks such as Spud Infinity, with its fiddle lead and jaw harp, push the narrative so far that we can almost taste a sense of tomfoolery, but pairing the Americana of Red Moon with jolting contemporary tracks such as Blurred Vision shows that there is more than meets the eye here.
Drawing lyrical inspiration from anything and everything, the songwriting is curiously moreish, and gradually seeps beneath the surface. Although parts of the album are off the wall, its rousing folk hooks rebound seamlessly off the tranquility of quieter tracks.
Guitarist and vocalist Adrianne Lenker recently described Big Thief’s creative dynamic as a kind of magic and while it requires the listener to dedicate themselves to understanding its many twists and turns, ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’ backs up her belief.
Big Thief Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu February 24 2022 - MANCHESTER Manchester Academy
Fri February 25 2022 - GLASGOW Barrowland Ballroom
Sat February 26 2022 - DUBLIN National Stadium
Sun February 27 2022 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Wed March 02 2022 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Thu March 03 2022 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Fri March 04 2022 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Sat March 05 2022 - LONDON O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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