A set of covers that came to fruition relatively impulsively during a pandemic-forced break from touring late in 2020,
Angel Olsen's
Aisles EP harks back to 1980s pop and new wave. The inaugural release on her own
Jagjaguwar imprint,
somethingcosmic, it was recorded in Asheville, North Carolina with co-producer/engineer
Adam McDaniel, who provided
Olsen with a selection of synthesizers and pedals to explore prior to their hitting the studio. Offering varying degrees of digression from the originals, the five-track set opens with its starkest contrast, a gloomy, downtempo version of
Laura Branigan's 1982 hit, "Gloria." The mechanical snare's rippling delay and deep, murky synth timbres underscore a deadpan vocal by
Olsen until she eventually makes way for an intense cello solo in place of
Branigan's disco-y keyboard break. Maintaining the mood and color of
Pornography-era
Cure, she moves on to a more loyal take on
Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face" -- if only by virtue of the song's original condition -- before next applying the dark post-punk treatment to
Men Without Hats' "Safety Dance." On the whole, despite its somber demeanor,
Aisles seems like it's all in fun, largely due to its boldness and vocal performances that don't try to connect with the deep emotions we're used to hearing from
Olsen. The approach works best on a suffocating, shoegaze-leaning interpretation of
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1986 Top Five hit, "If You Leave," from the Gen X teen flick Pretty in Pink. This version opens with pounding drums and a balance of synth shimmer and guitar distortion before
Olsen's flirty delivery adds a softer touch to the EP, at least until the spooky, multi-tracked choruses.
Alphaville's more melodic "Forever Young" closes a release that's inessential in a good way. ~ Marcy Donelson
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