The Fat Angel Sings

Angel Olsen’s debut album “Half Way Home” was a pleasant collection of minimalistic folk recordings, largely her vocals were left to carry the charm with just a smattering of instruments as a backing. Having made her name as a backing vocalist with Bonnie “Prince” Billy‘s band it was pretty much exactly what you’d expect from her, it was beautiful sure, but it didn’t hint at the stunning talent that would gradually unfurl itself, and lead to an album as stunning as “Burn Your Fire For No Witness”.

Every aspect of Angel Olsen’s sound has been refined, evolved and improved. Those who typecast her as a folk-singer, would be shocked by the thrashy-grunge sound of “Forgiven/Forgotten” or “High & Wild”, she emerged with all the intimacy of those early recordings in tact but with a new found confidence, where once she seemed almost timid, now she seemed like a star in the making.

Perhaps the albums most moving moment is its last. “Windows” is just aural heartbreak. All sense of joy and anger long since stamped out, all that is left is an aching sadness. It’s a plea for someone who’s lost in the darkness of depression, to let the light in, initially over a lone guitar she begs “won’t you open a window sometime, what’s so wrong with the light?” There’s an attempt to reason with the person, but ultimately she knows it’s too late, they can now only help themselves, “Why can’t you see? Are you blind? Are you dead? Are you all right?” Such is the quality and emotional impact of her vocal, you barely notice the music that slowly creeps in around her, organs subtly drone in behind, drums start slowly and build and build and build to a crushing crescendo, a perfect outpouring of sound, as she simply repeats “what’s so wrong with the light” it’s the sound of pure frustrated, helplessness, it’s overpoweringly beautiful, sad and frankly wonderful.