Big Thief transcend on folk-rock epic “Not”

Right on the heals of a brilliant album, Big Thief release a new single that tops everything that came before

Lasting six-minutes, “Not” is longer and harder than the previous album’s precious folk offerings. It genuinely rocks, rather than simply using rock as an additional sound in their palette. It is the first taste of their second album of the year, a promise of change and more brilliance.

As usual, the impact is in the details, and how subtle variations reward immersion in the band’s world. Adrienne Lenker’s vocals are assertive from the start, but become slightly louder with every verse, quivering and cracking as her emotions deepen. The transition from verse to chorus is barely perceptible.

Lenker’s words are as cryptic as usual. She details everything that she does not want to say, leaving you to imagine what she actually does have on her mind. At one point, the music stops, leaving only the beat to underpin her singing, and you genuinely feel her body shaking while trying to express her feelings.

After four minutes of tension, Lenker lets out steam with a long guitar freakout, the band jamming furiously behind her. It is one of the most satisfying finales to a song you will hear this year.