Double Infinity

''Double Infinity'' is the forthcoming sixth studio album by the American band Big Thief, scheduled for release on 5 September 2025 on 4AD. Produced and mixed by longtime collaborator Dom Monks, the album was recorded live over the span of three weeks at the Power Station recording studio in New York City.

Recorded as a three-piece, with additional instrumentation from guest musicians, it will be the band's first album without bassist and founding member Max Oleartchik, following his departure in 2024.

Background

After extensive touring in support of the band's 2022 double album, ''Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You'', Big Thief announced the departure of bass guitarist and founding member Max Oleartchik on July 11, 2024. The three remaining members – Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek and James Krivchenia – released a statement, noting: "After many beautiful years together, Max is no longer in Big Thief. Our love for each other is infinite, and we are so grateful for all we have shared these many years together since the beginning of our journey as a band. We wouldn’t be who we are without Max. This separation marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one for Big Thief. This change was made for interpersonal reasons with mutual respect in our hearts. It’s a big change for us and the four of us ask for your trust, respect, and care as we grow into the next chapter of our lives."

Following Oleartchik's departure, the band toured across 2024 with two new additional live members – Justin Felton (bass) and Jon Nellen (additional drums) – and released a collaborative studio album, ''Dance of Love'', with singer-songwriter Tucker Zimmerman, which had been recorded prior to Oleartchik's exit.

Reflecting on the band's first tour without Oleartchik, Lenker later noted, "So much of what we played on that tour felt really tough. It feels very different than what we’re used to, because we spent ten years as a four. We have partnerships together. We spend so much time together, we basically live together, and have been through so much. It’s like a marriage. So the change is very significant. It took a while, just like getting a divorce would. Like when Buck and I got divorced… It took a while to smooth out into the new space where we are."

Recording

In preparation for recording ''Double Infinity'', the band wrote “something like 50 or 60 songs" as a three-piece, with Lenker reflecting: "We tried to record the album with just the three of us in isolation in the woods. But we realised that we really wanted to open up the doors and bring in a big community of people that we admire." The band ultimately recorded ''Double Infinity'' at the Power Station in New York City over a three-week period, recording sixteen songs in total with their longtime recording engineer Dom Monks serving as producer.

The album features studio contributions from Alena Spanger, Jon Nellen of Ginla, Natural Information Society’s Mikel Patrick Avery, and Laraaji. Reflecting on the recording process and working with other musicians, Buck Meek stated: "The process was very intuitive, we just went purely on instinct. There was very little conversation at all – no one had heard the music leading up to the session. We would put together a groove really quick, and it just self-arranged, based on people’s instincts. The group created this kind of critical mass… this momentum where there isn’t any time for questioning." James Krivchenia elaborated: "We’ll carry that with us forever. Like, I play differently now because of the influence in that room. Like, my syncopation is different." Lenker praised the addition of other musicians in the studio: "We opened it up and let go of all control, not delegating anything. I could really feel our core within that. Big Thief is something that is flexible and fluid, and can expand and contract. In those moments of playing with everybody, we were all Big Thief."

Track listing

References

External links

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2025 albums
Big Thief albums
4AD albums