Our Golden Ratio

Like so many indie musicians, Jason Molina made many records quick and cheap, preferring the direct inspiration of the room he was sitting in to the self-conscious atmospheres of recording studios. Therefore, the audio quality varies from release to release, and even on his most carefully planned album (Magnolia Electric Co. by Songs: Ohia), the emphasis is on the performances above all. He released limited-edition albums that were only available to those saw him early on his tours. He had singles on obscure labels that disappeared within weeks of their release, and he had EPs like this one—1998’s Our Golden Ratio—that were released on obscure labels and heard by fewer fans than usual. This is notable for featuring the voice of his eventually estranged wife, Darcie Schoenman, reciting his words before Molina’s guitar blurts away the moment with furious fretwork on “There Will Be Distance.” The remaining songs resemble songs heard on albums from the era (Axxess & Ace, The Lioness), with their minor keys and suspended chords imposing a lingering sense of dread and unease.