Name: The Big Black & The Blue
Brand: First Aid Kit

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

CD-WEBB-222

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

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Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2012-04-03

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Redeye

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

5055036262224

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

First Aid Kit

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

First Aid Kit is a Swedish duo founded in 2007, consisting of siblings Klara and Johanna Söderberg. Known for their harmonious vocals, their music can be described as folk, country, or americana. Their career took off at an early age when their independently produced songs gained popularity on MySpace and Swedish radio. They signed with Rabid Records in 2008 to release their debut EP before joining Wichita Recordings and later Sony's Columbia Records. Notable highlights include their heartfelt tributes to legendary artists like Leonard Cohen and Emmylou Harris.

What sets First Aid Kit apart is not only their talent but also the influence of their father, Benkt Svensson, a renowned artist in Sweden. He played a crucial role in the band's formation by producing their records and managing tours.

Experience the enchanting melodies and captivating lyrics of First Aid Kit as they take you on a musical journey filled with soulful harmonies and heartfelt storytelling. Join them on stage along with their talented band members for an unforgettable live performance that showcases the true essence of folk, country, and americana music.

prodigious swedish teenagers klara (16) and johanna soderberg (19), aka first aid kit, have been gathering fans apace throughout 2009 since the release of their 'drunken trees' ep in february. originally released on the knife's rabid label, the duo was swiftly picked up for the uk by wichita recordings, who are proud to now unveil the glorious debut full length, 'the big black and the blue'. spending their formative years drinking from the fountain of american classics - everything from buffy sainte-marie to the likes of conor oberst - it shaped their way with song writing, arrangements and even the use of a second language. audiences have been falling at their feet, enraptured by their pure, shimmering voices in harmony. a hectic whirligig of a summer saw them perform at a multitude of festivals, with stand out appearances at glastonbury, field day, underage, standon calling and end of the road festivals. until now they have been rightfully praised for their astonishing cover versions, such as their infamous youtube phenomenon of fleet foxes' 'tiger mountain peasant song' (currently at over 600,000 views), but first aid kit are now unveiling some remarkable songs of their own. the first flourishes can be heard on this masterly debut album, built around the sweeping majesty and almost telekinetic, intricate weaving of their voices. sounding like the dreamy and spectral nieces of the indigo girls or michelle shocked coming in from the campfire to settle at the stockholm kitchen table, the soderberg's distil all of their collective influences and make them their own. whereas wendy and bonnie made a play for tripped-out girl-pop many moons ago, first aid kit are staking out the ground for wise-beyond-their-years, country-tinged pop. the songs seep under the skin and claw at you. surface playfulness is deceiving as the tracks take on a darker hue in places, but both elements work perfectly together to create a trance-like quality. this is very special, indeed. recorded at the cellar door, with small yet purposeful flashes of drumming from friend charlie smoliansky, the sisters wrote all the songs, and designed all the complementary, sepia-toned artwork. from the first few strokes of acoustic fused with those divine harmonies on 'in the morning', we enter the warm and spell binding nature of first aid kit's world. from this bold opener we move into the mesmeric 'hard believer', where a real-life argument about religion provoked the rousingly urgent line: "and it's one life / and it's this life / and it's beautiful". the jauntiness of 'sailor song' is underpinned by a driving autoharp, with a classic lost-love motif. album highlight 'heavy storm' showcases just how talented these girls really are - the vocal movement compelling and lovingly unfolded with a loosely jazzy swing. the fact that it was written two years ago makes it even more of an embarrassment of riches, given lines like "i wish i could hold on a little longer / still my worried stomach and calm my hunger / i wish i could believe what they taught me". the latter part of the album unveils more stinging highlights such as 'winter is all over you'. enveloping and richly rewarding with killer couplets to be found in its slipstream, "saw your mother at the department store / she looked innocent like a still born". 'i met up with the king' (sadly not about michael jackson on this occasion), borrows a line from gram parsons to marvellous effect, with the first aid kit surging and angry voice singing of a dispirited society. the fusion of flutes, guitar and voice on album closer 'wills of the river' was inspired by the film into the wild and swirls into the ether with the final words, "and the world is all alone now / while its children still sleeps, silently". a beautiful lullaby completes a lovingly-tended, classic debut. these sisters are definitely doing it for themselves and taking their vivid imaginings with them, but they would be delighted for you to join them for the continuing journey of this year and beyond.

The Big Black & The Blue

Music US