Angel Olsen’s newly-released track, “Sans,” is a stripped and longing traveller’s ballad

Indie music world’s cool and crooning folk-rock Queen, Angel Olsen, is putting together some unreleased B-side tracks to make up a “new” 12-song album titled Phases. Out on November 10th via Jagjaguwar, the release will feature the already-shared single, “Special,” along with the latest track, “Sans.”

The title, meaning “without,” is a two-fold accurate description of the track; where “sans” reflects the song’s stripped nature as Olsen’s soft and vulnerable, yet still sturdy and assured, vocals provide the sole body of companionship to her restlessly traveling guitar. Likewise, the lyrics describe feelings of loneliness and being away from loved ones when out on the road.

In an announcement shared with Consequence of Sound, Olsen states:

“When you’re out there and you’re working and moving so fast it’s difficult to really imagine a time when you were fully realized and known. You know, it’s hard enough to be known when you’re around! But then there are those people in your life that know you and don’t need you around all the time to be or feel close-I suppose it’s about that too.”

Watch Olsen perform an intimate session of “Sans” live on KCRW below, along with streaming the studio version. Don’t miss Olsen when she takes over Union Transfer for two whole nights this December on the 12th and 13th; more info on tickets can be found over at the XPN Concert Calendar.