The work of BIG BRAVE is ever-expanding. The trio's singular masterful sculpting of sonics into songcraft tucks layers of vulnerability into frenetic storms. In grief or in hope is an innovative vision of electro-acoustic sound and emotive storytelling, an endless bounty of overwhelming distortions and devastating beauty. In grief or in hope marks a shift for BIG BRAVE towards denser guitar-oriented compositions. With longtime touring bassist Liam Andrews (MY DISCO, Aicher) joining guitarist/vocalist Robin Wattie and guitarist Mathieu Ball in the studio for the first time, the pieces are keenly layered with a rich tapestry of harmonics and tonal intricacies. The trio's instinctual progressions made more vivid through live recording, harnessing the gargantuan and storied sound of their performances. Wattie writes: " All that I could reflect on was grief and hope; death and life; cause and effect; shared experiences of being a human person."The tenth album for the ensemble, in grief or in hope pays homage to their past while looking into their future. Standout "the ineptitude for mutual discernment" expands on lyrical themes first explored on 2015's Au de la where "verdure" echoes melodies from the title track of 2014's Feral Verdure. These references to their past serve as potent reflections on BIG BRAVE's evolution as artists. A sonic whirlpool of string instruments surround Wattie's commanding vocals as she shifts from spectral undulations on pieces like "what may be the kindest way to leave" to the direct, spare declarations of the title track. The ambiguity of mountainous chords on "an uttering of antipathy" are coupled with autotuned phrases emphasizing the protagonists' isolation inside the fray. Together the trio shift deliver emotional momentum that vividly describes the complex and deep feelings of struggle, pain, and transcendence. In grief or in hope transmits that sense of humanity with every gesture.