Formerly the guitarist for Seattle trio Sage, Marc Olsen recently earned notoriety for his work with Mark Lanegan on the Screaming Trees singer’s 1998 solo tour. Olsen’s second solo album reveals him as something of a kindred spirit to Lanegan, with songs of intimacy and drama that feel like confessionals. But whereas Lanegan’s voice is fire-roasted molasses, Olsen’s is a high whisper, multi-tracked to add depth. His guitar playing, however, is as deep as his voice is shallow.
Which isn’t to say Olsen can’t sing. Set just above the driving riff, propulsive beat and cello line of “Martian Romance” or the sinewy southern guitar jangle of “No Surprise”, Olsen’s breathy vocals hint at buried emotions and underlying tension to compelling effect. Many of his expressive guitar solos do the same. In the masterful and mood-setting opener “Missed”, Olsen picks a thick, clear lead, behind which hangs a shroud of chunky distortion. Most impressively, he shows an unusual ease with musical intimacy throughout the album, as on “Make Up”, where he takes us string-squeakingly close to the performance and lets his lyrics come through.
Olsen’s inspired arrangements include accents of cello, piano, keyboards and slide guitar, which drop in brilliantly to heighten moments and add poignancy. And unlike so many singer-songwriters, he understands how to take his songs somewhere. “Martian Romance”, “Your Day” and “To Sleep” go places: They start, they build, they crescendo, they twist, they resolve. Even the short instrumental “Fly By” goes beyond simply striking a mood.
On a couple songs (notably “Horse Is White”), Olsen’s vocal limitations work against him. But his singing works unexpectedly well in tandem with Anne Marie Raljancich on “Leaving Tomorrow” and especially the lovely “San Antone,” which begins the album’s home stretch. Majestic, affecting and most of all intimate, didn’t ever…hasn’t since… showcases a gifted guitarist turned expressionist singer-songwriter.