Big Time. Angel Olsen

Who ever would have thought that a country album would be one of the coolest releases on earth in 2022? Well, not me. This has nothing to do with the quality of Angel Olsen's new album, but the fact that, at least in part, it is a serious country album.

Looking at the way recent albums by Reb Fountain and Van Wyck have been received, it may have paved the way for Big Time. From serious listening folk music cum modern singer-songwriters to country is but a small step. The musical road Angel Olsen travelled in the past decade was already full of surprises. From an indie darling circa 2014, she explored further, not being stopped by conventions nor expectations. On the EP 'Aisles' she even covered Men Without Hats' hit song 'The Safety Dance". Now who remembers this song? It's one of the more obscure singles I have from the 1980s and one of my favourites as well.

So here is Big Time in 2022 after a period that came with changes, acknowledgements, recognitions and loss in her private life. From there she started working on her new album with Jonathan Wilson as producer, who as I understand correctly was basically told as a producer to remain in his cage and serve the songs, not his profession. It worked miracles, because the music on Big Time sounds so clear, so beautiful. All this results in a traditional sound that at the same time sounds extremely modern. The mix is extremely spacious, giving every room Angel Olsen's voice needs to shine and each instrument to be heard loud and clear.

Songs are seasoned by a pedal steel guitar, softly crying in the background and a warm organ calling out for attention and immediately getting it. They are definitely a reason why the music has this traditional element. Tammy Wynette could have sung a few of this songs, with a totally different arrangement and a tear in her voice, something Ms. Olsen does not have. In 'All The Flowers' strings enter the equation with an underwatery sounding piano contrasting nicely, bringing a little 1967 The Beatles to Big Time.

When all is said and done, Big Time is an album that needs to be listened to and not just like with any music. Because only listening will disclose the album's secrets and treasures for you. They are present in abundance and deserve to be discovered. The album ends even further away removed in time. It's the kind of song my mother would have appreciated in the 1950s and not for the first time this year I'm remembered of that now over 60 years old single 'Tammy' by Debbie Reynolds. Who ever would have thought?

To return where I started. The coolest album out there presently? No, I beg to differ. That title belongs to 'Wet Leg' by the band of the same name. Big Time is a very solid album though full of quality and, to me, surprisingly good. Better than I ever expected it to be on the basis of my first session with it. A tip for the world it certainly is.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order the album here:

https://angelolsen.bandcamp.com/album/big-time