First Aid Kit Continues to Flower
Maeri Ferguson
Posted On January 18, 2018
It’s almost hard to believe that beloved Swedish sister duo First Aid Kit have not released a full-length record in three and a half years because we’ve never lost sight of them. They’ve continued to dominate the festival circuit and pop up in collaborations in the years since 2014’s Stay Gold, incorporating unexpected covers (e.g., Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs”) into their sets and keeping our favorite original First Aid Kit songs fresh in our minds. Songs from 2012’s The Lion’s Roar practically feel like classics now. With their highly anticipated latest, Ruins, we see them continuing to grow and mature in their tastes as artists, tapping into a wide range of influences, from 1970s folk to contemporary pop, and creating something glimmering and cohesive.
The Söderberg sisters’ (Johanna and Klara) rich, full-bodied harmonies sound just as jarringly beautiful as they did when we first heard “Emmylou” nearly six years ago. Klara leads with her slightly lower register, and Johanna’s angelic vocals build the sound out and create endless depth. Sonically, Ruins takes a slight step back from the lush, stadium-sized pop melodies offered on Stay Gold. Ruins feels like a return to a twangier, more folk-heavy sound for the band, particularly on “Postcard.” Steel guitar plays off the piano and a dusty ol’ road percussion sound. Similarly, “It’s a Shame” features a strong showing of that steel guitar we’ve come to know and love from First Aid Kit, and “Distant Star” plays out like a heartbreaking country song.
Still, those enveloping, swoonworthy pop tunes do appear on Ruins, shimmering and brighter than ever. “My Wild Sweet Love” climbs to a mountainous, crystal clear vocal harmony in the chorus as it pays tribute to a lost love. “Rebel Heart” feels like a heavier, darker rock and roll tune, with an almost foreboding presence, and “Fireworks” and “Nothing Has to Be True” are solemn, gorgeous ballads.
Having a new set of First Aid Kit songs feels like a gift. Needless to stay, Ruins does not disappoint.
