It's striking that American Big Thief is among the most beloved indie bands of the early 20s. Completely detached from the prevailing electro and post-punk violence, the group from Brooklyn does what it wants with a bare sound rooted in Americana, rock and folk rock. Above all, they look and sound like a tight and open-minded collective of creative minds, with singer, guitarist and songwriter
Adrianne… Lenker and guitarist Buck Meek also pursuing solo careers. The cryptically titled double album Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You offers a fine sample of their skills. The foursome recorded it in four different studios with four different producers, but there is no underlying concept. Big Thief plays loose and self-assured in songs that veer between pure country, indie folk and more experimental rock, always with a leading role for Lenker's penetrating vocals. Some producers have done more work than others, but all four have understood that a pure reflection of the natural interaction between the four members works best. (MR)more
