Angel Olsen’s outtakes collection Phases is out at the end of the week, and today she’s giving us one last peak in the form of “Sans.” It’s a minimal, lo-fi demo, just Olsen’s impassioned voice and a single guitar echoing in the distance, but by now we should all realize that’s all this woman needs to make an impression. Here’s a statement from Olsen:
“Sans” was a song I wrote in between Burn Your Fire and My Woman, something short and simple but about a big thing in my life: travel and what it can do to the psyche. When you’re out there and you’re working and moving so fast it’s difficult to really imagine a time when you were fully realized and known. You know, it’s hard enough to be known when you’re around! But then there are those people in your life that know you and don’t need you around all the time to be or feel close — I suppose it’s about that too.
Angel Olsen – ‘Sans’ from Phases out November 10th, 2017 on Jagjaguwar Records
KCRW exclusive! Angel Olsen is a stunning singer-songwriter and she stopped by our studio to preview songs from her forthcoming album “Phases”, out on November 10th. Enjoy this live version of “Sans” and stay tuned for the full session airing on Morning Becomes Eclectic.
Angel Olsen gave us My Woman, one of last year’s best albums, and she’s also got one of the best live shows going right now. Her voice is monstrous, her songs are amazing, and her visual presentation is absolutely on-point; I love the way all the members of her backing band wear matching suits and bolo ties.
“Special” always felt like a band song to me, something to lose track of ourselves in. It didn’t quite fit the rest of the record and was a major deciding factor on whether or not it would mean a double LP. The record came out and I kept thinking about the song and wanting to play it anyway.
My friend came to visit me for a week and I had all these grand ideas about how to make another video. But it’s been a long year of touring and videos and pressure to keep on being important or interesting.
So I woke up the next day and changed my mind, deciding it would be best to just capture the days we were hanging and to occasionally have the camera up. Those days were some of the hardest and also sweetest of the summer. We spent much of the time talking about the current state of affairs and how everyone has been going through tremendous change and having to make hard choices. Maybe it’s just this year, but it feels that we’re entering a new era, one that requires us to really pay more attention to the world and ourselves in it.
What I realized is that going through a hard time and talking about it with friends makes you feel your friendships and who you are, and sometimes it takes a weird year to recognize what you still have.
Watch the Video Below.
Phases is a collection of Olsen’s work culled from the past several years, including a number of never-before-released tracks. “Fly On Your Wall,” previously contributed to the Bandcamp-only, anti-Trump fundraiser Our First 100 Days, opens Phases, before seamlessly slipping into “Special,” a brand new song from the “MY WOMAN” recording sessions. Both “How Many Disasters” and “Sans” are first-time listens: home-recorded demos that have never been released, leaning heavily on Olsen’s arresting croon and lonesome guitar.
The b-sides compilation is both a testament to Olsen’s enormous musical range and a tidy compilation of tracks that have previously been elusive in one way or another. Balancing tenacity and tenderness, Phases acts as a deep-dive for longtime fans, as well as a fitting introduction to Olsen’s sprawling sonics for the uninitiated.
Angel Olsen – ’Special’ from Phases out November 10th, 2017 on Jagjaguwar Records
Angel Olsen has announced the release of Phases, a deep-dive compilation record of unheard and unreleased tracks. Set for release on 10th November, the material on Phases spans recording sessions right from her very first EP, Strange Cacti, up until Olsen’s last album from 2016 album “My Woman”.
You can hear the first tasters of Phases below – check out ‘Special’ and ‘Fly On My Wall’.
Brand new track ‘Special’ is lifted from the My Woman recording sessions and ‘Fly On Your Wall’ was Olsen’s contribution to the Our First 100 Days compilation released in protest of the Trump administration.
Announcing Phases – a collection of B Sides, rarities, and demos including 3 new songs and will be available worldwide November 10th. Pre Order the collection:https://angelolsen.lnk.to/phases And listen to the new songs “Special” and ‘Fly On Your Wall’ now.
Angel Olsen – ‘Fly On Your Wall’ from Phases out November 10th, 2017 on Jagjaguwar Records
Angel Olsen – ’Special’ from Phases out November 10th, 2017 on Jagjaguwar Records
The Fat Angel Sings 