Big Thief have shared ‘Cattails’, the second new song off their forthcoming album U.F.O.F. This follows the woozily gorgeous first song, ‘UFOF’ (which Pitchfork named “Best New Track”) and gives listeners a glimpse into the breadth of moods contained within this new collection. ‘Cattails’ begins as a simple song, a finger-picked accompaniment from Adrianne Lenker and propulsive drums from James Krivchenia. As the song progresses, a glorious hum begins to take hold underneath, with drones and twinkling piano joining the throng, as the song seems to become lighter than air and take flight. Lenker says this of ‘Cattails’:
“Cattails came about while we were at the studio in Washington in the pine forest. Writing it was just one of those electric multicolored waves of connectivity just sweeping through my body. I stayed up late finishing the song and the next morning was stomping around playing it over and over again. We thought why not just record it, so James sat at the drums and we practiced and by the time we’d finished practicing, Dom Monks – our engineer – had already sneakily set up mics and recorded it. It was beautiful that he’d captured it right away because when James and I were playing it felt like a little portal in the fabric had opened and we were just flying. Listening back to it makes me cry sometimes.”
U.F.O.F., F standing for ‘Friend’, is the third record by Big Thief, set to be released on May 3rd. Adrianne Lenker (guitar, vocals), Buck Meek (guitar), Max Oleartchik (bass), and James Krivchenia (drums) have spent the last 4 years on an incessant world tour, winning the devotion of an enthusiastic and rapidly expanding audience.
U.F.O.F. was recorded in rural western Washington at Bear Creek Studios. In a large cabin-like room, the band set up their gear to track live with engineer Dom Monks and producer Andrew Sarlo, who was also behind their first two back-to-back releases, Masterpiece (2016) and Capacity (2017).
“Making friends with the unknown… All my songs are about this,” says Lenker; “If the nature of life is change and impermanence, I’d rather be uncomfortably awake in that truth than lost in denial.”
U.F.O.F. is available for pre-order on LP, CD, and digital. Limited translucent orange vinyl is available via the Big Thief store and 4AD store + your local indie retailer. Limited forest green vinyl will be available through Vinyl Me Please.
BIG THIEF TOUR DATES
April 20 – SAN DIEGO, CA, Irenic
May 2 – LOS ANGELES, CA, The Fonda Theatre
May 3 – LOS ANGELES, CA, The Bootleg Theater **SOLD OUT**
May 5 – BROOKLYN, NY, Elsewhere **SOLD OUT**
May 18 – LEEDS, GB, Brudenell Social Club **SOLD OUT**
May 19 – GLASGOW, GB, SWG3
May 21 – DUBLIN, IE, Vicar Street
May 22 – MANCHESTER, GB, The Ritz
May 23 – LONDON, GB, Roundhouse
May 24 – BRISTOL, GB, SWX
May 26 – CAMBRIDGE, GB, Cambridge Junction
May 27 – PARIS, FR, Trabendo
May 28 – BRUSSELS, BE, Orangerie
May 30 – BARCELONA, ES, Primavera Sound
May 31 – NÎMES, FR, This Is Not a Love Song Festival
June 2 – AMSTERDAM, NL, Best Kept Secret
June 3-6 – MARINA DI RAVENNA, IT, Beaches Brew Festival
June 3 – BERLIN, DE, Lido
June 4 – ZURICH, CH, Bogen F
June 8 – PORTO, PT, NOS Privavera Sound
August 6-10 – OSLO, NO, Oya Festival
August 8 – COPENHAGEN, DK, Lille Vega
August 15-18 – BRECON BEACONS, GB, Green Man Festival
August 16 – HASSELT, BE, Pukkelpop Festival
October 10 – NEW YORK, NY, Webster Hall
October 11 – NEW YORK, NY, Webster Hall
October 12 – SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT, Higher Ground
October 13 – BOSTON, MA, Wilbur Theatre
October 15 – MONTREAL, QC, La Tulipe
October 16 – TORONTO, ON, Phoenix Concert Theatre
October 17 – DETROIT, MI, Majestic Theatre
October 18 – CHICAGO, IL, Metro
October 19 MADISON, WI, The Sylvee
October 21 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN, First Avenue
October 24 – PORTLAND, OR, Crystal Ballroom
October 25 – VANCOUVER, BC, Vogue Theatre
October 26 – SEATTLE, WA, Moore Theatre
October 28 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA, The Fillmore
October 30 – SANTA ANA, CA, The Observatory
November 1 – PHOENIX, AZ, Crescent Ballroom
November 2 – ALBUQUERQUE, NM, Sister
November 4 – AUSTIN, TX, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheatre
November 5 – DALLAS, TX, Trees
November 7 – ATLANTA, GA, Variety Playhouse
November 8 – SAZAPAHAW, NC, Haw River Ballroom
November 9 – PHILADELPHIA, PA, Union Transfer
November 10 – WASHINGTON, DC, 9:30 Club
November 11 – COLUMBUS, OH, The Athenaeum Theatre
