Review: Angel Olsen’s “Burn Your Fire For No Witness”

-Dan MacKnight

    So I have been told that 2014 is "going to be a big year for garage rock. “  I hope that’s true, because right now it seems like everything that has been coming out consists of synth-heavy New Wave revival music, which I have never really been fond of.  In the hopes of finding something new and exciting, I decided to check out Angel Olsen’s new album, which a few of my friends are already hooked on.

The album opens with “Unfucktheworld,” a truly eerie lo-fi slow song.  Olsen’s delicate voice cuts through her acoustic guitar in a slightly distorted tone like it’s coming out of a 1950’s radio.   It’s a little haunting with Olsen repeating the lines “You may not be around,” and “I am the only one now” over and over again.
    The mood of the album picks up a little bit with “Forgiven/Forgotten,” a no-frills garage-rocker.  “Hi-Five” might be might favorite song on the album.  It features some psychedelic guitars pulsing with heavy use of tremolo, reminding me a bit of White Denim.  Olsen’s voice is fantastic on this track, bringing us back to the days of 60’s protest folk rock. 

Burn Your Fire For No Witness then takes a darker turn into “White Fire.”  It’s a hypnotizing number, with guitars drenched in reverb and Olsen softly singing “Burn your fire for no witness it’s the only way it’s done.”  “High and Wild” picks the album up a little bit, picking up the tempo with some loud drums, spacey guitar licks, and more of Olsen’s slightly dark, yet mesmerizing songwriting.

“Lights Out” is one of the few songs on the album where the percussion is really prominent, keeping all of the airy guitar work snapped to the rhythm.  “Stars,” might be one of the louder songs on the album, with Olsen and the band building up into a crescendo in each chorus.  It’s interesting that the album moves from a number like that to “Iota,” with Olsen playing jazz chords on an acoustic guitar while singing some dreamy lines that start out with “If only…”  It gives the listener a view of Olsen’s ideal world.
  
 “Dance Slow Decades” slowly builds up from Olsen singing over two soft guitar chords to loud drums, droning pianos and tons of overtones.  “Enemy” is a beautiful lo-fi acoustic ballad.  The lyrics seems very honest and reflective.  “I need advice it’s true, but I won’t hear it from you” is one line that stuck with me for some reason.
 
  The album ends with “Windows.”  It is structured similarly to “Dance Slow Decades,” slowly (very slowly) building up until a nice, loud, spacey jam to close out “Burn Your Fire For No Witness.”
 
  While this is the first album I have heard by Angel Olsen, it led me to check out her other albums, which are just as good.  It really showcases a darker, more haunting side of folk music.  If you’re in the mood for some honest, reflective, sad songs that really make you lose yourself in your thoughts, check out Angel Olsen.  If you like what you hear, check her out  live when she comes to the Fête Lounge on May 11th.

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