Afton Wolfe’s latest single is wonderfully atmospheric rendition of the David Olney song “Titanic”. With pounding drums and searing, grinding electric guitar, the tone is set for this powerful, moody song. Over the compelling instrumentation, Wolfe’s vocal is an outstanding, gritty, growl of a performance. Wolfe shares his feelings about the song: “‘Titanic’ is a perfect example of David Olney’s brilliance. It’s a song from the perspective of an iceberg with as much intensity, feeling and connection as any other song you’ll hear. Nobody else could do that in that way.”
The single is accompanied by an animated video in which fleeting images capture the intense atmosphere of the song. Here’s what the good-humoured Wolfe says of the video: “The only ways to make a video for this song were (a) a multi-million-dollar epic film with insane CGI or (b) chaotic, lo-fi, abstract animation sourced from Southeast Asia. I think Galihpanji did a great job.”
“Titanic” is taken from “Can’t Steal My Fire: The Songs of David Olney”, a terrific compilation album featuring the likes of Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Dave Alvin, Greg Brown, Mary Gauthier and Jim Lauderdale. There’s also a never-before-released version of “Illegal Cargo” performed by Townes Van Zandt at his 1977 show at Cat’s Cradle in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It’s a great album with a great Afton Wolfe performance. It follows his recent duo release of the Rolling Stones’ classic “Dead Flowers” with Jaimee Harris. Fans of Wolfe should also look out for a forthcoming new LP, “Ophiuchus”, led by first release “Invocation”, an almost 7-minute epic that is out now.
