First Aid Kit: The Big Black and The Blue
First Aid Kit: The Big Black and The Blue
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Friday, 22, Jan 2010 12:24
Wichita, out January 25th.
What's it all about?
Two young Swedes decide to take on the world through a well-realised album using a distinct yet embraceable style. It follows from a rise to fame after a Fleet Foxes cover the pair posted on YouTube. Like the Foxes or not, it's a pretty impressive feat to pull off, vocally. They did, and here they are with their debut album.
Who's it by?
First Aid Kit are comprised of the child prodigies Klara and Johanna Soderberg. Not many people have heard of them but with this folk revival which seems to be gripping the faces of the nation, it stands to reason that they'll do pretty well over the coming months. It's not hard to see this being the case either, and you can tell they're related by their synergistic vocals.
To add to this, the pair are touring the UK as part of a European venture which will likely get them a lot of press.
As an example...
"You may call me irresponsible/Or even carefree/But it's not the way I/Intended to be" - A Window Opens
What the others say
"Overall the 11 tracks float majestically along and produce some marvellous moments that defy the age of their protagonists." - contactmusic.com
"Their palette might lack variety, but with voices to rival Emmylou Harris at her most soulful, what they achieve is exceptionally done." - The Skinny
So is it any good?
You know what? I really like these two and I'm guessing you will too. It's admitting it to yourself that's the kicker. I mean, two young sisters from Sweden playing folk music? Who'd've thunk it?
There's never a dull moment with First Aid Kit, so it seems. Or an unhappy one. Even the more sorrowful notes seem to exude some glimmer of hope, while the more bubbly ones bring a smile to your face. Over the 38 or so minutes of the album, you just glide through the air with the greatest of ease. The only thing which should be served up with an album this acoustic-heavy and with such lilting beats is a small boat and a blue sky.
Some songs have certain elements of the Shins - Heavy Storm in particular - where a simple guitar melody will take the lead and be followed with remarkably soulful lyrics. And with a tune with a name like Heavy Storm, you'd think it'd be sad? Hell no. In fact, it simply gathers more pace after a minute or so.
What about Ghost Town? Nope, it's still nice. If Chernobyl was made by Disney, that's the kind of ghost town we're talking with First Aid Kit. It's slow, each bar is signalled with an organ changing key while an austere guitar is played so calmly that the person using it may well be asleep. Again, the pseudo-orchestral tones of Klara and Johanna quietly dominate.
The album goes so quickly because you enjoy every minute, like a good film. If it's on in the background, you still struggle to focus on what you're writing, like I am now. I'm still listening to it, about a week after giving it the first spin. Testament to a good production, methinks.
And yet you never quite know where you would play it. It's not the kind of album you match to any occasion. Still, you'll listen to it. It's the kind of thing you keep on your MP3 player in case of sadness emergency, like a video of a laughing baby on YouTube or that picture of your friend and that bear trap. Good times.
It's hard to see them getting anything but good press from their travels across Europe. It's also easy to believe this warming, comforting music will be even better live, so it might be going along for a taster yourself.
It's a bit of a strange one, is The Big Black and The Blue. The vocals are wonderful, synergistic and unique, yet it's easy to transfer this kind of style to the likes of Dayna Kurtz, Norah Jones and other voice-heavy and relaxed artists from the US. There's even a bit of Nina Persson in there too, which is where the Scandinavian elements return.
Still, the American-esque drawl of Klara and Johanna is a tough one to judge. You want to dislike it by proxy, but their charm wins you over and their English is better than mine, while an unknown quality pushes them out there that little bit further.
Ultimately, the vocals will win you over. They're powerful, very easy to understand from the first listen, as well as capable of telling you a story. With a genre like this, that's all you want and you'll get it in spades. Want chilled out folk? Get this. It's a done deal.
9/10
Matt Gardner