OLSEN, ANGEL - Phases (Sealed) (LP)

Phases is a collection of B-pages, rarities and demos from the last few years, some of them previously unreleased. Balancing between persistence and tenderness, Phases offers fans of the first hour a deep dive and is a good introduction to Angel Olsen's work so far. From the lo-fi and sparse folk melancholy of her first EP "Strange Cacti" (2010) to the electrified, polished rock' n' roll explosion of the celebrated "MY WOMAN" (2016), Angel Olsen has gone his own way. Impossible to pin down, she navigates the world with her remarkable symphonic voice and her penchant for narration. Their music always takes on the form that best suits the story to be told. "Phases" starts with "Fly On Your Wall", which was previously only available via band camp on the Our First 100 Days project after Donald Trump's election, and then continues seamlessly into "Special", a brand new song created during the sessions of MY WOMAN. "How Many Disasters" and "Sans" are the first to be heard: home recorded demos that have never been released before and are very much influenced by Olsen's captivating Croon and her lonely guitar. The compilation is a testimony to Angel Olsen's enormous musical reach and a decent compilation of tracks that were previously hard to find.