Released - January 23rd 2012
Witchita
Album Listing
1. The Lion`s Roar
2. Emmylou
3. In the Hearts of Men
4. Blue
5. This Old Routine
6. To a Poet
7. I Found a Way
8. Dance to Another Tune
9. New Year`s Eve
10. King of the World
Review
The second album from Swedish sisters, Johanna and Klara Soderberg, contains beautiful vocal harmonies, lush, slow-rolling melodies and some wonderful production from Mike Mogis. "The Lion`s Roar" sounds timeless recalling Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Mama Cass and Gram Parsons by way of modern alt-folk/alt-country.
First Aid Kit have been championed by Jack White and Patti Smith (who apparently cried when she heard their rendition of "Dancing Barefoot"), and it is not hard to see why. Opener and title track, "The Lion`s Roar" is wintery and sorrowful but lifted into epic territory by ethereal vocals and a stunning Dylan-esque melody. "Emmylou" is full on alt-country by way of Bright Eyes, as the girls compare a relationship to the musical partnerships of Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons, and June Carter and Johnny Cash, that feels natural, fluid and not at all twee.
"Blue" sounds like Mama Cass covering Blonde on Blonde era Dylan with gorgeous vocal harmonies, "To a Poet" is a beautiful, sparse acoustic tune that is as heartbreaking as anything I`ve heard in a long time, "Dance to Another Tune" is a doom laden apocalyptic epic, that soars in the chorus, again thanks to the excellent vocal work by the Soderberg sisters.
Who would have thought that an album steeped in Americana would come from two Swedish sisters who hail from a Stockholm suburb ? In fact, it may well be the best Americana record of the year. Highly recommended.
DOWNLOAD - The Lion`s Roar, Blue, To A Poet
RATING - 8 (out of 10)
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