The Lion’s Roar: First Aid Kit’s cure
Vanessa Lim reviews The Lion’s Roar – a new release from Sweden’s First Aid Kit.
Score: 4/5
Keeping with the same sound that has won them scores of fans on their road to fame, The Lion’s Roar heavily features the vocal capabilities of the singing sisters which might sound like any other ordinary ethereal folksy female out there save for the rather unique way their voices blend in and complement one another, backed up by their comforting woodsy melodies — think Gregory and the Hawk, but less breathy, more grounded and infinitely more lyrical.
Favourites include Emmylou – a song worthy for that lonely winter night playlist that used to be solely composed of Bon Iver until now: “Oh the bitter winds are coming in and I’m already missing the summer / Stockholm’s cold but I’ve been told I was born to endure this kind of weather”; and The Lion’s Roar, which paints a melancholy landscape at the beginning of the “pale moon [singing] of forgotten things,” grows into a warning of “the way your world can alter” and then swells to the almost vindictive and yet vulnerable confession that “I’m a goddamn coward but then again so are you / And the lion’s roar, the lion’s roar / Has me seeking out and searching for you.” Blue is also worthy of a special mention, with Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard tweeting that he was “Right now convinced that Blue by First Aid Kit is the greatest song ever recorded” — high praise indeed, and I have to agree.
I highly recommend The Lion’s Roar and encourage you to watch them live as well— I had the opportunity of watching them open for Lykke Li at the Roundhouse, Camden last year and can assure you that their live performances are filled with the same intensity of feeling you get when listening to their albums. I was initially skeptical when they floated onstage in long matching galaxy print dresses — after all, I was there to watch the goddess Lykke Li and wasn’t terribly interested in her opening act — but I should have known better (see: Sweden can do no wrong) and soon fell under their spell.
If you missed that performance as well as their recent free show at Brick Lane — fear not. They will be performing again on the 23rd of February with Samantha Crain at the King’s College Student Union on Surrey Street. Make time for First Aid Kit — they’re great for healing the pain you never knew you had.
1 As I’m sure you know—the popular clothing retail giant
2 Swedish goddess of pop, indie rock and electronica
3 Indie pop trio responsible for Animal
4 Purveyor of Do-It-Yourself Furniture and Swedish Meatballs
5 True Blood’s Eric Northman and Generation Kill’s Colbert