Olsen officially came on the scene with EP ÔÇÿStrange CactiÔÇÖ, a not displeasing clash of sparse, eerie echoes and voice oscillating between registers. The touch of folk that crept its way in was fully unleashed in first album ÔÇÿHalf Way HomeÔÇÖ, released in 2012. Angel Olsen went from resonance-in-the-rough to crisp vocals over guitar picking; from songs entitled ÔÇÿIf ItÔÇÖs Alive, It WillÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿCreator, DestroyerÔÇÖ to ÔÇÿSafe in the WombÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿThe Sky Opened UpÔÇÖ. In short, 2012 was a dire year.
Thankfully, this yearÔÇÖs ÔÇÿBurn Your Fire for No WitnessÔÇÖ opens with ÔÇÿUnfucktheworldÔÇÖ. A superior effort. ItÔÇÖs minimalistic and not a million miles away from her folky debut, but the touch of synth and self-assertive message ÔÇô ÔÇ£I am the only one nowÔÇØ ÔÇô are the perfect way to bridge the gap from Safe First Album to Better Second One.
ÔÇÿForgiven/ForgottenÔÇÖ, a youthful song of ignorance and love, uses the addition of Josh JaegerÔÇÖs drums to prime effect. Every element of the track pounds out the lyrics ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt know anythingÔÇØ, bringing back the chaotic undertone of OlsenÔÇÖs EP that had gone astray in the folk nightmare of 2012.
Middle track ÔÇÿStarsÔÇÖ is one of the albumÔÇÖs highlights. AngelÔÇÖs voice disintegrates by the end of the track to become entirely indiscernible, which is entirely appropriate to the accusation, ÔÇ£I think you like to see me lose my mindÔÇØ. In pulling each other apart, content and form come together. ÔÇÿStarsÔÇÖ contends with ÔÇÿForgiven/ForgottenÔÇÖ for the richest composition on the record.
The odd twang sneaks in throughout (you can take a nap through seven-minute drawl ÔÇÿWhite FireÔÇÖ) but overall ÔÇÿBurn Your Fire for No WitnessÔÇÖ just about does justice to the pioneering promise of its title. Olsen experiments with Stewart Bronaugh on bass, distorting her voice at the albumÔÇÖs strongest moments so that the words become an extension of BronaughÔÇÖs playing. The record succeeds in maintaining an accessible rock vibe while pushing the boundaries far enough to make OlsenÔÇÖs second offering a worthy contribution to music in 2014.
If Angel Olsen continues to evolve at this pace and resists the temptation to folk, sheÔÇÖll be firmly on the radar next time around.