Big Thief – Incomprehensible

Big Thief emerges from its winter hibernation with “Incomprehensible,” the opening track from its sixth studio album, “Double Infinity,” which will be released on September 5th via 4AD. Now operating as a trio following Max Oleartchik’s departure, the band has crafted something refreshingly unguarded.

Recorded over three weeks at New York’s Power Station, the album sessions were almost communal – the band cycling through frozen streets between Brooklyn and Manhattan. They gathered with a rotating cast of collaborators including Laraaji, Alena Spanger, and members of Natural Information Society. Nine-hour recording days built songs through improvisation and collective discovery, with longtime producer Dom Monks capturing the magic live with minimal overdubs.

“Incomprehensible” showcases this organic approach beautifully. The track flows with the kind of natural rhythm that only comes from musicians truly listening to each other, layering textures that support rather than compete with Adrianne Lenker’s contemplative vocals. The production feels spacious yet intimate, allowing each element to breathe while maintaining the song’s cohesive emotional core.

Lyrically, Lenker grapples with the passage of time and the strange beauty of ageing, finding poetry in silver hair and sagging skin. “Let gravity be my sculptor, let the wind do my hair”—an acceptance that growing older might actually be a form of artistry rather than defeat.

The song is a gentle manifesto for embracing life’s incomprehensible nature rather than trying to decode it.