"Big Red Machine" is the self-titled debut studio album by the American indie folk act Big Red Machine, a collaborative project between musicians Justin Vernon (best known as the frontman of Bon Iver) and Aaron Dessner (from the band The National). The album was released on August 31, 2018, through People and Jagjaguwar.
The creation of "Big Red Machine" first started in 2008 when Aaron Dessner sent Justin Vernon an instrumental sketch of a song called "Big Red Machine," which later appeared on the compilation album Dark Was the Night. Talks of a potential collaboration started and, over the years, they sporadically worked on the music until it culminated into the 10-song album.
The album is a part of a bigger project called PEOPLE – an artist collective and platform for sharing music which Vernon and Dessner helped set up. "Big Red Machine" was not just created by Vernon and Dessner, but it had multiple contributors which included Bryce Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, Richard Reed Parry, and others. This represents a strong community effort that was rounded out with the mix by Jonathan Low and mastering by Greg Calbi.
"Big Red Machine" features the extensive use of synths and auto-tuned vocals, blending together elements of folk, electronic, and experimental music. Lyrically, the album touches on various themes including anxiety, love, and existential dread, with a poetic approach to songwriting. The album was well-received by critics for its innovative sound design and emotive songwriting, showcasing the immense creativity and musical ingenuity of Vernon and Dessner.
