Two years after abysskiss, New York-based musician and singer-songwriter Adrienne Lenker (Big Thief) has released two solo albums called songs and instrumentals which are out via 4AD. She explained: “After the Big Thief tour was canceled in early March, I drove up to Western Massachusetts, where I was very gratefully able to stay in a small cabin in the Berkshire Mountains just down the trail from my sister. I felt inspired by the way my acoustic guitar sounded in the cabin and wanted to capture the sound. My friend Phil Weinrobe drove up in April and we spent the next month recording. I had a handful of songs that I had been planning to start with, but by the time Phil arrived I was very heartsick and new songs surfaced unexpectedly.”
There are two records; they are connected but meant to offer separate experiences. One is called ‘songs’, nine of which were written freshly during the recording session, and the other record is called ‘instrumentals’– which emerged from beginning and closing each day with improvised acoustic guitar. I’d like to think that at any time you need or want, you can put on ‘instrumentals’ and have the sensation like a friend is playing guitar to you softly in the room.
I am very proud of these recordings, though they were born in a time of grief, both personal and as a collective species. It feels strange to try and pair words with the release of music. I don’t know if there is a graceful way to do it in these times. Please, if this is something that you feel you won’t benefit from, just let it pass away. If you could use some support in the form of songs, give it a spin. These songs have helped me heal. I hope that at least in some small way this music can be a friend to you.”
Check the full streaming below.