First Aid Kit - Ruins

Rating:

‘Ruins’ cements First Aid Kit’s place in the Americana songbook.

Approaching ten years in the game, First Aid Kit came into 2017 balancing critical acclaim with newfound exposure through a series of car commercials. Having reflected on the success of their last two albums, ‘Ruins’ finds the Swedish duo staking their claim as songwriting mainstays.

‘Rebel Heart’ is a brooding opener which culminates in a flourish of spidery guitar and a sombre trumpet solo, and hints at the increased confidence and scope with which the Soderberg sisters have been able to approach album four.

Produced by Tucker Martine, the hidden hand behind American folk-rockers The Decemberists’ steady rise, ‘Ruins’ is a reflective and mournful piece, ruminating on heartbreak with a sigh more than a howl. By their fourth album, First Aid Kit have crafted an accomplished sound, the acoustic backbone expertly complimented by tight percussion and masterful keyboards.

Despite its morose lyrics, lead single ‘It’s a Shame’ is one of the more musically upbeat songs on the record, with playful organ flitting around the edges of the mix. Arriving early, ‘Fireworks’ is the most affecting piece, a lilting slow-dance framing a sorrowful tale of lost love, as Klara Soderberg strains for the peak of its yearning chorus.