Burn Your Fire for No Witness
17 February 2014
Jagjaguwar
4 stars out of 5
“Thought I had ideas once—they were all on loan.” So sings
Chicago’s Angel Olsen on “Dance Slow Decades,” one of the more striking moments
on her very strong second LP Burn Your
Fire for No Witness. If you thought she was just another Bonnie “Prince”
Billy collaborator without a voice of her own, you were dead wrong. This
delicate but confident offering of naked sorrow is a must-hear for anyone who
loves the more personal and blood-stained aspects of Americana
The album begins quietly with “Unfucktheworld,” featuring
only acoustic guitar and Olsen’s radio-distant distorted voice.
“Forgiven/Forgotten” brings the noise, with fuzzed-out electric guitars and a
full band. The creeping gothic tale of the electric folk “White Fire” broadens
the scope of the album. Olsen captivates with her story and vocal delivery. “Stars”
is a darkly personal plea to a loved one that explodes into a sorrowful indie
rock song reminiscent of Tanya Donelly. “Iota” is straight out of the 1950s:
Olsen is the heroine in a Hollywood western
musical, but using her lyrics to twist the classic period into a knowing exposé
of its own hollowness. “Dance Slow Decades” funnels all the power of Olsen’s
harrowing voice and the poisoned barbs of her lyrics into four minutes of
sustained deadly attack.
The album ends with the gentle plea of “Windows,” in which
Olsen asks “What’s so wrong with the light?” Indeed, nothing. Olsen pulls light
out of some very sinister shadows all throughout Burn Your Fire, looking into the abyss and then stepping back from
the edge to tell you what she saw with a smile and a warm hug.
reviewed by Richard Krueger
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