The first time I heard First Aid Kit was when they supported Slow Club during their tour last year. They were kicking around the empty venue watching Slow Club’s sound check.
The Swedish sisters looked so young that I thought someone had snuck their daughters into the venue before the doors opened.
I have been a massive fan of First Aid Kit since that gig in October. I listened obsessively to their Drunken Trees E.P and I’ve been counting down the days til their release of their debut album The Big Black and The Blue.
It was completely worth the wait; the album sounds fantastic from the get go. The Big Black and The Blue opens with the stunning ‘In The Morning’; it starts with an acappella harmony, clinic which leads into the quietest and gentle strums of an acoustic guitar, see and instantly grabs your attention and steals your heart.
The interesting thing about First Aid Kit is the contradiction in two young girls writing the occasional song about middle-aged women, sale or tackling stories that seem beyond their teenage years. Just like ‘You’re Not Coming Home Tonight’ from their E.P, ‘In The Morning’ is just one of the songs about a life the musicians are too young to lead themselves.
It sounds patronising, but there really aren’t any other musicians as young as these girls writing lyrics of this depth or maturity.
The Big Black and The Blue alternates between acappella styled harmonies and country tinged guitars to create 11 beautifully crafted songs that you won’t get bored of. ‘Hard Believer’ is the standout song of the album; it’s another track that shows off the maturity and wisdom in the lyrics.
On first listen this isn’t in the same league as their Drunken Trees E.P, but if you give it enough time, it’ll grow on you. I think there’s a space in everyone’s music collections for this stunning release. I shall be upgrading my press CD for a vinyl version next week.
Categories ,Drunken Trees, ,First Aid Kit, ,In The Morning, ,Slow Club, ,The Big Black and Blue
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