FIRST AID KIT

‘Ruins’

(Album Review)

Reviewer: Esther Triffitt

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Starting off 2018, Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg (First Aid Kit) have released their fourth album ‘Ruins’. While remaining comfortable in their own craft, echoing indie folk, country vibes, the record utters nothing more than simple grace, with pure and smooth vocals, accompanied by pleasant acoustics.

If you were to judge the album down to progress and evolution, it could be seen as somewhat boring, yet amongst changing times, First Aid Kit’s own pace seems effortlessly timeless.

First track ‘Rebel Heart’ introduces the listener to a whimsical melody, slowly building into a chorus that holds a steady drum beat, accompanied by the sisters’ harmonic voices. After an almost four year break between records, the time spent has proven sound soaked with nostalgia and heartache, blending smoothly into second track ‘It’s A Shame’, and ballad ‘Fireworks’, coupled with choir backing vocals.

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‘Postcard’ weeps of an ex-lover, and though typically could come across as simplistic, the voices of both Johanna and Klara are unmistakably pure, and when blended together create a concocted beautiful mess.

The last three songs on the album push the record to the next level, detailing on a dysfunctional and painstakingly addictive relationship, all songs written so elegantly, with the expectedly phenomenal vocals. The new album is not necessarily a reinvention, but by sticking to old roots, First Aid Kit have done this so well.

Finishing up with ‘Nothing Has To Be True’, First Aid Kit have wrapped up an album all about final goodbyes and internal acceptance, tainted with relatable lyricism and melodic guitar strumming that builds throughout.

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