8/10

Since emerging back in 2016 with their brilliant debut album 'Masterpiece', New York-based outfit Big Thief have quickly made themselves one of the most prolific and captivating groups working today. With a ferocious output during their infancy, which saw them release four studio albums in just over three years, the band looked to cover a diverse ground throughout their earlier years and maintain a bold and tenacious image throughout. But after three years away from the limelight, they now return with their fifth full-length 'Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You', a record that sees them return in a far more matured manner.

Throughout their earlier releases, Big Thief were more about experimenting within the folk-rock guise. Regularly branching out from their more traditional endeavours in pursuit of a more distinctive direction, they earned an unpredictable reputation as a result. But when it comes to 'Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You', it feels like these moments have become more refined and purposeful within the rest of the recording. There is this dynamic texture running the length of this new LP, as they embark on fresh and exciting ideas as often as possible, creating a wonderfully vivid listen from start to finish.

It may be the furthest they have ventured from their roots to date, but 'Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You' still manages to stay true to its formative identity. There is this wonderfully adventurous aesthetic to these songs, something that not only defines their sound, but makes for a fascinating experience as well.