Somewhere between working at an LA film agency and creating the style blog Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Laurel Canyon-based Meg Olsen put together her first EP, Deal from the Bottom. A look at the song titles, -- "Corners of Bars," "Reckless Heart," "Deal from the Bottom," and "Smoke and Mirrors" -- gives a hint about the atmosphere that Olsen is going for before the first notes of the record even play.
Once opener "Corners of Bars" does begin, Deal from the Bottom moves through that Neko Case-style world of noir-country that always makes me think of driving an old car along a deserted highway somewhere in the Southwest. Olsen's vocal delivery even bears some resemblance to that of Case, though she doesn't display the same raw power as Neko.
I'm a sucker for covers, and Deal from the Bottom closes with a spaghetti western / surf-infused version of the Morrissey classic, "Suedehead." Both reverb and vibrato are used extensively and to great effect.
Deal from the Bottom is, unsurprisingly given Olsen's background, a stylish debut. Olsen and producer Daniel Dempsey display an impressive consistency in their stylistic choices, infusing the entire collection with an atmosphere of darkness and romance.
You can stream or purchase Deal from the Bottom at Meg Olsen's Bandcamp page.
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