Jen's Music Review
Jenness Mitchell • Published 25 Jan 2012 08:00
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First Aid Kit: The Lion's Roar
Swedish siblings Johanna and Klara Söderberg are set for success with their wispy folk sounds. Following an extensive worldwide tour after the release of their 2010 debut, The Big Black & The Blue, the duo were spotted in Nashville and were approached by Jack White (The White Stripes) who after seeing their show requested them to record a single for his Third Man Records series. In February 2011 the duo collaborated with Bright Eyes - to which they would then go on to work with Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis on this second studio record. A lot of musical output from Sweden is bright, poppy and hook heavy - for example, ABBA, Those Dancing Days, Robyn and Swedish House Mafia. You normally wouldn't associate the honky-tonk of American-styled country with Scandinavian artists, but that's exactly why First Aid Kit are appealing. Although both girls are only in their early 20's, they have a Laura Marling-esque charm to their creations. They're old souls that reminisce about Stockholm, heartbreak, lost love, resolutions and long winter nights. The instrumental is minimalistic allowing the sisters to use the chemistry of their vocals to make an impression. As far as sophomore albums go, The Lion's Roar is a beauty. Come festival season First Aid Kit will be pulling a crowd fit enough to burst a tent. Highlights on this release include the title track, Emmylou, King of the World, New Year's Eve, Dance To Another Tune and I Found A Way.
Spotify Playlist Recommendation:
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: Belong. WU LYF: Cave Song. KANKOURAN: Rivers. Tokyo Police Club: Bambi. Wavves: King Of The Beach. Best Coast: Wish He Was You. Ra Ra Riot: Can You Tell. We Barbarians: Stroke by Stroke.
The aforementioned selection is a bunch of tracks I cannot stop listening to of late. From the sexy bass of We Barbarians' Stroke by Stroke to the surf sounds of Wavves' King of the Beach and Best Coast's Wish He Was You. I like the easy rock swing of The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart's Belong and I love the coolness of Ra Ra Riot's Can You Tell. Tokyo Police Club's Bambi will steal your attention with its bashing key melody, KANKOURAN's Rivers builds to a swirling swaying jam, and Manchester's WU LYF (World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation) have an absolute knockout in Cave Song.
Extra Info:
If you have a Spotify playlist recommendation, email me on jmitchell@alloaadvertiser.co.uk or send music my way via open.spotify.com/user/jenster13.
Videos to check out:
The Bullitts starring Rosario Dawson, Supercool: www.youtube.com/user/TheBullittsTV
Ed Sheeran, Drunk: www.youtube.com/user/EdSheeran
Nicki Minaj, Stupid Hoe: www.youtube.com/user/NickiMinajAtVEVO
Arctic Monkeys, You and I (feat. Richard Hawley): www.youtube.com/user/ArcticMonkeys
Emeli Sandé, Next to Me: www.youtube.com/user/EmeliSandeVEVO
Gig updates:
Niki & The Dove, The Classic Grand, Glasgow (7 February)
NME Awards Tour (Two Door Cinema Club, Metronomy, Tribes, Azealia Banks), O2 Academy, Glasgow (8 February)
Aerials Up, King Tut's, Glasgow (11 February)
Brand New, O2 Academy, Glasgow (14 February)
The Big Pink, King Tut's, Glasgow (14 February)
Ben Howard, Oran Mor, Glasgow (19 February)
Grouplove, King Tut's, Glasgow (21 February)
Benjamin Francis Leftwich, O2 Academy, Glasgow (24 February)
First Aid Kit, King Tut's, Glasgow (27 February)
Dog is Dead, King Tut's, Glasgow (6 March)
Laura Marlin, O2 Academy, Glasgow (10 March)
Florence + The Machine, SECC, Glasgow (12 March)
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