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Adrianne Lenker - 'songs' and 'instrumentals' Out Now
Adrianne Lenker : 'songs' and 'instrumentals' Out Now
22nd October 2020

Today. Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker releases two new albums, songs and instrumentals. In conjunction, she presents a video for ‘zombie girl’.

Buy/stream songs and instrumentals here +

Praise for songs and instrumentals

"Her songs feel age-old, with haunting serenity. The talent she possesses is something so special and rare. Lenker's songs seem to effortlessly flow out of her." - Loud and Quiet (9/10)
"Spread across two albums that function as one stunning piece of music" - Pitchfork (8.8/10)
“Lenker has produced a folk album which could sit amongst the best from her forebears.” - The Line Of Best Fit (9/10)
"One of the most cohesive, decorous albums of solo acoustic music in recent memory." - DIY (4.5/5)
“A soothing balm.” - NME ****
"Beautiful solo offering, Lenker's most unguarded album yet." - Uncut (8/10)
"A tonic for the soul" - i ****

As Amanda Petrusich observes in her deep searching New Yorker profile, “Lenker writes often about time and loss – how to cling to what we need and let go of everything else. For her, songwriting is a way of externalizing specific experiences or memories and pinning them in place, like a butterfly under glass.” This notion unfurls in the intimate lyrics of ‘Zombie Girl’ as Lenker documents the emptiness felt after the end of a relationship: “I was frozen in bed with a zombie girl // vacant as a closed-down fair // sleep paralysis, sworn I could’ve felt you there // and I almost could’ve kissed your hair // but the emptiness withdrew me // from any kind of wishful prayer.” The homemade video shows parts of the recording of the album version of the song, weaving together clips of Lenker in the cabin where the albums materialised and the surrounding woods.

songs and instrumentals are two distinct collections, both written and recorded in April after Big Thief’s March tour was abruptly cut short due to coronavirus. With a hankering to capture the feel of the space, Lenker enlisted the help of engineer Philip Weinrobe, gathering a mass of tape machines, a binaural head, and a pile of XLR cables. While songs represents more lyrical and traditional songwriting, instrumentals sees Lenker stretching out and exploring the space in 2 longer instrumental pieces.

The vinyl recording is 100% analog-analog-analog (AAA). No digital process was used in the production of this sound recording. The albums’ stunning covers are watercolour paintings by Adrianne’s grandmother, Diane Lee. songs and instrumentals will be packaged together on double LP, CD and cassette.

Watch the visualisers for 'songs' in the player below.

Watch the visualisers for 'instrumentals' in the player below.