Listen to Angel Olsen’s Safety Dance (Men Without Hats Cover)

“Search Artists”

Aisles EP of ‘80s Covers

Out August 20th (Digitally) and September 24th (Physically)

Debut Release on somethingscosmic, Olsen’s Jagjaguwar Imprint

“While Branigan’s 1982 “Gloria” had pumping synthesizers and a perky vocal, Olsen paid attention to the lyrics…Olsen’s version is blearily slow, thickened with distorted keyboard chords and grunting cellos; this ‘Gloria’ is mired, not triumphal.” – The New York Times

“This cover of Laura Branigan’s ‘Gloria’ is baroque and awash in synths. It sounds entirely unlike anything Angel Olsen has ever released and that’s a very thrilling thing.” – PAPER

“Angel Olsen’s ‘Gloria’ is a heavenly rush of huge ‘80s sound.” – NYLON

“a sultry rendition with a slowed-down tempo” – Rolling Stone

Today, Angel Olsen unveils her striking cover of Men Without Hats’ “Safety Dance.” The track appears on her forthcoming Aisles EP of ambitious ‘80s covers and the debut release on her new Jagjaguwar imprint somethingscosmic, out August 20th (digitally) and September 24th (physically). Following Olsen’s rendition of Laura Branigan’s “Gloria,” “a gothic, synth-pop ballad that simmers with melodrama” (Consequence), “Safety Dance” is mesmerizing and far more menacing than the original. With an alluring edge, it attests to the incredible range and control of Olsen’s voice, which intones over leveled synth and percussion, as the song progressively builds in intensity. “I felt this song could be reinterpreted to be about this time of quarantine and the fear of being around anyone or having too much fun,” says Olsen. “It made me wonder, is it safe to laugh or dance or be free of it all for just a moment?”

Listen to Angel Olsen’s “Safety Dance”

The Aisles EP, which also features covers of “Eyes Without A Face” (Billy Idol), “If You Leave” (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark) and “Forever Young” (Alphaville), 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. There, the two would get lost on a part for hours, messing with obscure pedals, synthesizers, and sounds.

Olsen comments, “I know it’s not really in my history to do something unintentional or just for the hell of it, but my connection to these songs is pretty straightforward, I just wanted to have a little fun and be a little more spontaneous, and I think I needed to remember that I could!”

Listen to Angel Olsen’s “Gloria”

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Aisles EP Tracklist