On “Burn Your Fire,” Angel Olsen Expertly Expands Her Musical Palette

If Angel Olsen has proven anything to us in the past, it’s that tragedy can be musically striking in the right hands. With her newest studio creation, the singer-songwriter continues to flaunt her mastery for pulling heartstrings with stunning results. “Burn Your Fire For No Witness” is a record that expertly weaves her penchant for beautiful gloom with her skill as a vocalist and musician. Of course, we’ve seen this mastery before in Olsen’s previous studio endeavors; she’s already shown she takes the “tortured artist” aesthetic to heart, and fans love her for it. This record is no exception; the heartbreak that made Olsen’s other works successful is just as potent here.

Although “Burn Your Fire” follows the same emotional lines as other Olsen works, the album also marks a progressive change for the artist. Olsen’s songwriting grows in complexity, incorporating several new elements to the orchestration that give the record a fuller, more electrified sound. Guitar tracks laden with effects, hard-nosed drum beats, and echoing layers of backing vocals are a far cry from the bare, acoustic tracks we’re used to hearing from Olsen. This definitely isn’t the singer-songwriter we know—but the new Angel Olsen might be stronger than ever.

The album starts off innocently enough with a tribute to Olsen’s past. “Unfucktheworld” is a straightforward, waltzing mix of steady strumming and searching vocals. However, as soon as the second track, “Forgiven/Forgotten,” begins, it unveils a new, grungier Angel Olsen. An uncompromising, hard-edged guitar provides the base for the track, allowing Olsen’s pointed refrains to become the center of attention. She’s not just the requisite amount of sad, either—the singer allows her anger full reign over her vocal expression, baring herself to listeners with the full fury of a songwriter in distress. Starting off at a slow burn, she builds intensity, unleashing a previously underutilized belting power reminiscent of Grace Slick over a pulsing, high-energy soundscape of guitar and backing orchestration. Luckily for Olsen, resentment is just as flattering on her as sadness.

From here, “Burn Your Fire” continues to branch out, reaching an emotional depth unsurpassed by any of the singer-songwriter’s previous works. The bones of her usual songwriting style remain, but Olsen takes heartbreak to new heights, dressed up with more electronic elements and artistic orchestration choices. For the most part, the new components only amplify Olsen’s ability to express emotion through her music. On “Hi-Five”, she gives her country-tinted songwriting a new twist with added guitar distortion and layering—Johnny Cash meets Patsy Cline, and they find an overdrive pedal. Similarly, on “Dance Slow Decades,” thundering drums encase Olsen’s lamentations in a cavern of sound, giving her more space to sigh amid the anchored strumming of a waltzing acoustic guitar.

Of course, with the incorporation of new components, Olsen runs the risk of betraying her original aesthetic. Fans shouldn’t fear, however; this is a move she makes with poise, and these additional elements mostly add to the impact of her songs. There are a few moments (“Stars” is one example) where the singer seems caught under heavy layers of sound, muddying her usually clear vocals. If it weren’t for her penetrating voice, this music would collapse into a heap of folk and sadness—the only reason Olsen can afford to take such creative steps is because she has the pipes to back it up.

This incredible vocal talent, along with the songwriter’s potent lyrics, form a foundation that can easily support the added flair. Despite Olsen’s best efforts, though, her artistry still shines brightest in a stripped-down setting. Minimalist tracks “Enemy” and “Iota” prove that it’s hard to write anything less than amazing with a distinctively expressive voice, an overflowing supply of raw emotion, and a guitar. Another standout is “White Fire”, an eerie lament to lost dreams. Olsen’s voice ebbs and flows to the tune of captivating sorrow, and we can’t help but ride the tide with her.

“Burn Your Fire For No Witness” is a mesmerizing record, proving that Angel Olsen’s charm has only increased with her creative development as a songwriter. Whether clothed in complex layers of orchestration or reduced to their barest components, these songs demonstrate that the true essence here lies with her powerful voice and heartfelt writing style. “Burn Your Fire For No Witness” is an entrancing and melancholy amalgam of “I wish I” and “if only”; this is modern indie-folk music at its best.