Back in the fall of 2019, when Big Thief released their fourth album Two Hands, it seemed like a lot of folx brought the generation-defining “Not” with them back home for Thanksgiving, using the song to soundtrack whatever it was we were all facing with our families as our former lives crossed with the current.
New single “Incomprehensible,” released earlier this month and the first offering from Double Infinity, out in September via 4AD, emerges with a similar feeling of emotional heaviness, the type of track that stays with us long after the first listen, and seems poised to hold a place of importance as we collectively teeter on the brink of whatever it is we’re on the brink of.
As percussion swirls and a feeling of hopeful nostalgia permeates through this stunning composition, an immediate contender for SOTY and eventually to be placed amongst Big Thief’s finest efforts of a pretty remarkable career, Adrianne Lenker’s soul-stirring lyrical wordplay dances in and out of our headspace with ease, reflecting her own life back at ours: “In two days it’s my birthday and I’ll be 33 / That doesn’t really matter next to eternity / But I like a double number, and I like an odd one too / And everything I see from now on will be something new.”
We could probably just repost the entire lyric sheet from Genius and call it a day.
Big Thief, now a trio consisting of Lenker, Buck Meek, and James Krivchenia, have this to say about their forthcoming sixth album: “We spent the last couple of years gathering songs, then asked our friends to join us in bringing the songs to life, and then whittled it down to the nine in this batch. We rode our bikes through the wintery streets of Manhattan to the Power Station, bright-eyed and curious as ever to play! We played our hearts out with our friends in that room, and thankfully it was recorded. What a gift! We’re so proud and excited to be part of this and to share with you all!”
Lean into “Incomprehensible” and its gorgeous wonder below.