Big Thief - Masterpiece album review: a record that backs up the boast of its title

Masterpiece
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Artist: Big Thief
Genre: Rock
Label: Saddle Creek

You may not think you need yet another indie-folk band from Brooklyn in your life – and then you clock what Adrianne Lenker and friends are doing and you’re all ears.

It takes considerable swagger to call your debut album Masterpiece, but the songs here back up such gumption. Rich, textured, emotional, seductive, detailed and deep, Masterpiece is one of those seasoned albums that sounds as if it's been around forever. Lenker's penwomanship is poetic and forensic throughout, a songwriter covering the life, love and loss beats with great observational grit and diligence to produce magnificent work such as Real Love and Little Arrow.

Around Lenker's blue and bittersweet tones, the band add colour with subtle tones which occasionally (see Humans) explode into sky-filling fireworks. A sweetheart of a record, one to keep close and treasure.

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