Angel Olsen caught our attention with her 2014 second studio album Burn Your Fire for No Witness. This 29 year old girl from St.Louis played with Bonnie Prince Billy before she decided to take off and start her solo career. It was a smart move that paid off because she quickly became Angel Olsen, a glorious pearl of the music scene.
Her third year album My Woman was released under Jagjaguwar label. Angel found herself at the intersection of folk, lo-fi and indie with country and Americana flavors, but everything is packed in the sound that entices at the first listen. Sensual, ethereal and sporadically dark vocal spurs the infatuation.
With this effort, she showcased all that she is capable of, both in writing and interpretation. In short period of time, she managed to mature as a songwriter. Songs are full of divine figures and references that are represented in lively and simple manner. Even when she writes about the mundane things, Angel succeeds to transforms them into little transcendent, soft elegies.
Femininity is omnipresent in her writing, although it is never just that. It is an abundance of personal experience of a young woman who is looking for her place under the sun. She is well aware of the sensitivity of the theme, but never sounds patronizing. Angel is gracious throughout the whole record. Relationship problems and growing pains are cardinal topics. Angel sings about herself as a woman. She also sings about all the other women.
Beautiful ballade Intern is the strongest asset of the album, so it comes as no surprise she chose it for the opening track. It reminded me of Marrisa Nadler from her first releases, ergo, it is a dark folk song. Vocal is morose, but also powerful and cutting. Never Be Mine continues the journey and drives country-Americana in the manner of Neko Case. Still, Angel manages to do it her way because the chorus is distant from all the influences. It is incredible how all of those songs sound familiar, but miss Olsen makes them distinct and unique. Sister and Woman both advert to personal experience and the feminine feelings.
My Woman is a step forward for Angel Olsen. Her folk is even more perplexing now, and I can’t wait to see what she will bring to the table in the future.
