Angel Olsen presents the Aisles EP, comprised of head turning covers of
‘80s classics and the debut release on her new Jagjaguwar imprint
somethingscosmic. The EP features ambitious takes on five covers, including
“Gloria” (Laura Branigan), plus “Eyes Without A Face” (Billy Idol),
“Safety Dance” (Men Without Hats), “If You Leave” (Orchestral Manoeuvres
in the Dark) and “Forever Young” (Alphaville).
The Aisles EP was recorded in the winter of 2020 at Asheville’s Drop of Sun
Studios with co-producer and engineer Adam McDaniel. Olsen had known McDaniel
for years and became better acquainted while trying to conquer the audio of
live-stream at-home performances last spring. McDaniel and his wife Emily opened
their home to Olsen throughout the previous summer and made it a safe space to
create and let go before beginning tracking. “I told Adam I had an idea to
record some covers and bring some of the band into the mix or add other players.
I needed to laugh and have fun and be a little less serious about the recording
process in general,” says Olsen. “I thought about completely changing some
of the songs and turning them inside out. I’d come over to find Adam had set
up five or so synthesizers, and we’d get lost on a part for a while messing
with some obscure pedal, I knew nothing about. We’d spend a good amount of
time going through sounds before finding one or two, sometimes we’d get real
weird and decide to just go with it.”
Angel Olsen’s Aisles EP follows the Song of the Lark and Other Far Memories
Box Set, released this past spring, and her new single with Sharon Van Etten,
“Like I Used To.” It is the premiere release for somethingscosmic. “I’m
very excited to be introducing somethingscosmic, an imprint that will serve as
the home for all my covers, collaborations, and one-off singles,” says Olsen.
“In this time away from touring I have been inspired to create more, and
somethingscosmic will give the me flexibility to release when and how I want to
with the help from my long-time partners at Jagjaguwar. The hope is that it will
become a place for all of my creative endeavours, music and otherwise.”
