Currently, there seems to be an apparently new idea that all of us in our early to mid-20s will probably be going through a ‘quarter-life crisis’. It’s an idea describing a feeling of being lost in the world and having misplaced the sense of purpose we gained from our full and rewarding teen years. The two Swedish sisters that make up First Aid Kit have hit that age of near maturity and their latest offering seems to have encapsulated those ideas of nostalgic memories of glory days past.
There’s a feeling of melancholy and bravado that carries throughout the album as Klara and Johanna’s perfectly harmonised vocal acrobatics astound and delight. After the initial striking violin line on opener My Silver Lining, Klara makes a declaration of apathy to the struggle of answering those eternally tough life questions. “I don’t want to wait anymore/I’m tired of looking for answers/take me someplace where there’s music and laughter.”
The Söderberg sisters’ brand of country folk matches the mood of the lyrics perfectly and with backing from the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, the songs became quite grandiose arrangements. However, the core of each Nashville-tinged tune is still Klara’s guitar, Johanna’s piano and their perfectly intertwined voices which are always kept at the forefront of each recording.
The harmonised vocal lines are the flashpoint throughout the album, becoming most evident on the duo’s newer single Cedar Lane. The chorus mesmerises the ears as their voices weave a waltz with the vocal melody floating from high to low on each alternate word.
First Aid Kit have crafted an album that seems to reflect their personal battles with those niggling feelings of nostalgia and sense of not knowing what the fuck you’re doing. The musical arrangements build on those ideas, pressing the listener to hark back to their own melancholy memories. However, it’s not depressing as each track is almost like a celebration of those times, with a string section bursting on almost every track. Chuck it on and relive those days you wish could go on forever.
BY RHYS MCRAE
Best Track: My Silver Lining
If You Like These, You’ll Love This: Memory Lane ELLIOTT SMITH
In A Word: Bittersweet
