Review: Angel Olsen – Burn Your Fire For No Witness

Angel Olsen. There’s no way I could full explain this musical songstress’ talent in just a couple of paragraphs. She is vulnerable, she is strong, she is sad, she is happy, she is emotion. Pure, raw, emotion. Today I wanted to cover her newest album that I’ve been playing quite a lot:

You know the feeling when you’re grasping on to the remains of a relationship? You hold their hand but you feel numb with regret? You lie in bed next to them but you’ve never felt so alone. Yeah, that feeling. Well, Olsen’s newest album “Burn Your Fire For No Witness” carries those latched-on feelings. ‘Forgiven/Forgotten‘s lyrics, even with its grunge tones and reverb, somehow remain at the forefront. Catchy but empty – uplifting yet incredibly wistful. Olsen performs these lyrics with such sincerity and only an atmospheric electric guitar for company…which again, just goes to prove the value of her raw, genuine artistry.

 

There seems to be a theme of importance on this album. Lights. ‘White Fire‘, ‘Lights Out‘, ‘Stars‘ and ‘Windows‘ (my personal favourite) all of which seem to speak of a transitional period. Turning off a light and ending something indefinitely, paired with the hope and new beginnings that a shining light brings. There’s something beautiful about it. Refreshing. Optimistic. Promising, and yet, it still cries out in desperation. Olsen’s emotionally overwhelmed mind of frantic thoughts and frustrations can be clearly seen in ‘Stars’: “I feel so much at once, that I could scream – I wish I had voice of everything – To scream the feeling ’til there’s nothing left“.

 

The album continues with melodic, hazy tunes; carrying in pretty acoustic numbers and doused into angrier, almost punk-influenced outputs. This album will make your heart swell and break synchronously, and ironically, it’ll make you feel less alone. It’s a “let me hold your hand, I know what you’re going through and am there for you” sorta album. Under the poppy exterior of ‘Hi-Five‘, she sings out “Are you lonely too? Hi-Five! So am I!” coaxing out an almost euphoric attitude to an undeniably saddening subject. Something only Angel could pull off.

 

Here’s a video from a live session she did back in January. It’ll leave you speechless, it’s that beautiful. Enjoy! Xo