The Light Appears

It’s not often a love song can be described as ferocious, but it seems an apt description for Angel Olsen’s blinding single “Forgiven/Forgotten”. Hearing Olsen shout ”I don’t know anything, but I love you” through a haze of vocal and guitar distortion is mesmerizing. Olsen then taps into her inner Hank Williams for the punk-country twang of “Hi-Five” where she pleads, “I’m giving you my heart, are you giving me your heart?”

And this is how Angel Olsen’s second album, and first for Jagjaguwar, Burn Your Fire For No Witnessstarts out. As you get deeper into the album, Olsen, along with producer John Conglton favour minimal arrangements, letting the vocals mingle with spare instrumentation. The hushed lament of album closer “Windows” and acoustic “Iota” are great examples. But both contain subtle power, the percussion swell in the former and a bass drum that sounds like bombs going off in the distance on the latter. Burn Your Fire… is beautiful, angry, loving and sad all at the same time. This range of emotion makes Angel Olsen’s first full band release, a very compelling listen.

8/10

Review also found at UMFM.com

Late last year, Winnipeg band Vikings released their 7 song self-titled album. Looking to capture the sound of their electronic pop, the trio (Josh Youngson with brothers David and James McNabb) worked with fellow Winnipegger Andrew Yankiwski of Precursor Productions to mix and master the album. Having formed in 2011, this is the first release for the band and follows a number of opening slots for The Lytics and Twin Shadow as well as festival slots throughout the province.

Vikings gets off to an energetic start with frenzied synths and distorted vocals of “Strange Days”. On the bouncy “Open Up Your Eyes”, the band tries to out Cut Copy Cut Copy and more than succeeds on the expansive “Great Abyss”. The only misstep comes with the first two verses of electro R&B ballad “Save Me” which comes off really creepy before redeeming itself in the second half. That minor quibble aside, Vikings’ debut sparkles throughout.

7.5/10

Review also found at UMFM.com