Harking back to the exemplary lo-fi folk of Burn Your Fire For No Witness – a record that, to my ears at least, remains her masterpiece – Angel Olsen has since revealed the pared-down, desolate Sans from this Friday’s ‘B-sides compilation’, Phases. A prime exhibition of her effortlessly lithe songwriting talents, this one begins with her lamenting the seemingly interminable touring (or ‘what it can do to the psyche’) that last year’s superb MY WOMAN release has precipitated, the both opening and closing lyric: “Time moves so strangely when you’re movin’ all the time/ Can’t wait to see you, baby/ When it’s all through, and you’re mine” directly reflective of sentiments voiced during Banks’ Waiting Game. And while Olsen will have to wait until late into next month to settle into the festive season, those hankering for more slow-burn B-sides such as this shan’t have to wait a great while longer now…
Phases is available from this Friday, 10th November via Jagjaguwar.