First Aid Kit The Lion's Roar

First Aid Kit is the duo of sisters Johanna (keyboards, autoharp, vocals) and Klara Söderberg (guitar, vocals). They hail from Sweden, but their sound is pure Americana. Led by the orchestral production of Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, M. Ward), their second release features rich arrangements sweetened by flute, glockenspiel, pedal steel, strings, hammer dulcimer, piano, and organ. Their father, Benkt Söderberg, plays bass. This full-bodied backdrop supports the sisters’ stirring harmonies and the pronounced drama of their songs, which is all the more impressive considering their youth (they're just 19 and 22, respectively). The vocal performances are truly extraordinary throughout. They emote with such sincerity that even the heavy emotion and mature themes of songs like “This Old Routine,” “Blue,” and “Dance to Another Tune” ring true. Conor Oberst and James Felice of The Felice Brothers join for the celebratory final track, “King of the World,” to close The Lion’s Roar on a joyous note, handclaps and all. A warm ending to a gorgeous album.