(Wichita)

On the surface, First Aid Kit’s obsession with Americana looks a little odd, given that they’re Swedish sisters barely out of their teens. But the pair’s homage is steeped in knowledge, and this second album sounds like it could’ve been made in the hillbilly backwoods anytime in the last 40 years.

The Lion’s Roar, made with some of Bright Eyes in tow, is more lush than its predecessor and sees the girls heading for smoother country territory than their earlier ragged folk, but their truly sublime sibling harmonies are still the shining beacon they always were. It’s far from cheery – there’s a deep melancholy to the likes of ‘Emmylou’ and ‘To a Poet’ – but it’s heartfelt and compelling stuff.

First Aid Kit - Emmylou