On August 20, Angel Olsen will be releasing Aisles, a five-track offering featuring covers of 80s classics from the likes of Alphaville, Men Without Hats and Billy Idol. Of the EP, she says:
“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!”
Having already heard her version of Laura Branigan’s “Gloria”, today we get to hear Olsen’s highly anticipated version of “Safety Dance”. Much like her version of “Gloria”, it finds the singer slowing the song down and using an array of synths to create an imperious, stately reimagining. With her even tone and a more measured approach to the vocal, you might expect it to lose the frolicsome nature of Men Without Hats’ original, but Olsen still maintains a coy smile in her version and it feels like a celebration in slow motion, especially in the epic final moments.
Listen to Angel Olsen’s “Safety Dance” below or on streaming platforms.
Angel Olsen’s Aisles EP arrives on August 20 through her new Jagjaguwar imprint somethingscosmic (pre-order/save). The track list is:
- Gloria (Laura Branigan)
- Eyes Without A Face (Billy Idol)
- Safety Dance (Men Without Hats)
- If You Leave (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark)
- Forever Young (Alphaville)
