The Big Black and Blue

Amelia’s Magazine | First Aid Kit – The Big Black and Blue – Album review

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FAK_BBB_packshot

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.

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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.

Written by Laura Nineham on Monday February 1st, 2010 2:56 pm

Categories ,Drunken Trees, ,First Aid Kit, ,In The Morning, ,Slow Club, ,The Big Black and Blue

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Amelia’s Magazine | First Aid Kit: a taster of the new album with single The Lion’s Roar

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first-aid-kit-the-lions-roar
I’m a massive fan of the incredibly young Swedish twosome known as First Aid Kit, tadalafil and none more so than when I discovered that their father (and mentor) was once in a band with my mum’s Swedish cousin. Tis a small world, aye.

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Listen to The Lion’s Roar here.

First Aid Kit have been wowing audiences in America as support for Lykke Li and now they’re back with a new single from their second album, both called The Lion’s Roar. At a performance in Stockholm they even dumbfounded the legendary Patti Smith (watch the video here)

YouTube Preview ImageGhost Town

On December 6th they will be wowing audiences with a full showcase of the new record at Bush Hall. The Lion’s Roar was recorded in Omaha with production by Mike Moggis of Bright Eyes fame, and their dad doing duty on the bass. If the single is anything to go by the new album will be every bit as superb as their first.

YouTube Preview ImageBright Eyes & First Aid Kit – We’re Going to Be Friends (The White Stripes Cover)

For more information visit the First Aid Kit website or read our review of their first album The Big Black and Blue and my review of their Union Chapel gig last year.

The Lion’s Roar (single) is out in December on Wichita Recordings.

Written by Amelia Gregory on Thursday October 13th, 2011 1:08 pm

Categories ,Bright Eyes, ,Bush Hall, ,First Aid Kit, ,Lykke Li, ,Mike Moggis, ,Omaha, ,patti smith, ,single, ,Swedish, ,The Big Black and Blue, ,The Lion’s Roar, ,union chapel, ,Wichita Recordings

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