Dragon New Warm Mountain I believe in you is Big Thief’s 5th album following the longest break between performances in Big Thief history. According to Adrianne Lenker, the main vocalist, in a 2022 Pitchfork interview “We had this huge energy source from just being hungry to play at all—and to see each other” This big ball of energy was transmuted into an album stuffed to the seams with 20 mind-blowing songs.
This hour and 20 min journey begins with Change. Lenker’s soft, tired like voice sings “Change, like the sky Like the leaves, like a butterfly” This song is about the fluidity and fluctuation that is unavoidable in life. Nothing is forever and things are always going to be different. Lenker forces you to reflect on your past, waterboard yourself with nostalgia, and ponder how things have changed for you to be where you are today. Listening to this song on the car ride home from my high school graduation caused more pain than I like to admit. Occasionally, Buck Meek’s supporting vocals intertwine with Lenker’s meshing in beautiful harmony. The standout vocals are supported by mellow acoustic guitar and drums slowly relaxing you...until you’re ZAPPED awake by the second song Time Escaping. Wipe off your tears and stop sobbing about your ex- girlfriend pretending you don’t exist, just jam!
Time Escaping is unlike any Big Thief song I’ve heard before. The messy cacophony of plucking and drums in the first few seconds is a big shift from the soft acoustics of Change. It took a couple of listens to stick in my mind but it's quickly became one of my favorites. As the song progressed, my heart beat started to quicken with the fast-paced instrumentals as if I was in a race against time.
The track that I surprisingly enjoyed the most has to be Spud Infinity. Jaw harp and fiddle are enough to make gal slap some spurs on her waterlogged converse, sell all her possessions, and hop on a train to Montana! As opposed to her velvety, longing vocals in previous songs, Lenker's voice takes on a twangy rough element that suits the country vibe. The members of the band are supported by Lenker's brother Noah on the jaw harp and Twain band shredding the fiddle. I'm a huge fan of the jokey lyrics and rhyming like "Everybody steps on ants Everybody eats the plants Everybody knows to dance". While a lot of Big Thief's songs tackle big emotional concepts it was nice to have a little bit of silliness mixed about.
As the penultimate track Blue Lightning faded out, all i could do was lay back in my twin xl and stare at the ceiling. After going through every stage of grief, a dance party, and a 4-page journal entry I can conclude that this album was phenomenal. Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in you is easily a 10/10.