Britt Witt on February 25th, 2014

1

Hi-Five if you’re lonely! Despite the woeful tone with which loneliness saturates life, St. Louis singer/songwriter Angel Olson takes the “misery loves company” notion to a new level in her single, “Hi Five.” Her dramatic drawl is rife with alluring persuasion, carried by tremelo-style guitar and robust percussion. Toeing the lines of rock ’n’ roll, Americana and folk, Olsen is an immediate flashback to late-’60s minimalist fuzz and beguiling melodies, with Judy Henske-style vocals. Her harmonies are familiar for fans of Will Oldham aka Bonnie “Prince” Billy, with whom she got her start with singing backup vocals. Olsen’s second album, “Burn Your Fire for No Witness,” released on Jagjaguwar, was appropriately produced by John Congelton (Joanna Newsom, Modest Mouse) for a suitable dose of glorious highs, whimsical lows and a mystique that draws the suffering and downhearted.

||| Stream: “Hi-Five

||| Live: Angel Olsen performs at the Echoplex March 2.

Photo by Zia Anger

||| Also: Check out the video for “Hi-Five” after the jump: