First Aid Kit - The Big Black and the Blue (Wichita Recordings/Jagadamba Records)

According to their MySpace page, Swedish duo First Aid Kit, aka sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg, aim for the hearts, not the charts. Peddling their own version of acoustic ballads rooted in the folk storytelling tradition, the album relies heavily on the sisters' clear and powerful voices backed almost entirely by an acoustic guitar. The Big Black & the Blue, their debut album, follows in the wake of previous EP releases.

Upon listening, it's easy to spot the singles which are to be released from the LP, 'Hard Believer' has soulful lyrics, soothing accompaniment and close harmonies and has all the hallmarks of a successful crossover track and likely to attract fans of Laura Marling and Emmy the Great.

Similarly, 'Waltz for Richard' places the sisters' vocals centre stage, toning down the accompaniment to add more scope for melodic exploration. Reminiscing on a final journey to the beach, the track is gentle and heartfelt.

The Söderberg sisters are undeniably talented. Their voices are clear and, for the most part, note perfect. The album is beautifully produced and their arrangements are sympathetic and play to their talents. But therein lies the problem. With repeated listening, it's clear that something is missing from the package as a whole.

There is very little variety and they haven't really pushed themselves to explore different facets of the alternative or nu-folk genre, which has allowed so many of their peers to cross over into the mainstream. Of the eleven tracks, only 'A Window Opens' really offers marginally different musical perspective.

Whilst still hugely dependent on an acoustic guitar accompaniment it incorporates a strong rhythmic element to the overall mix, including the use of a light snare drum. Written with 3 definite beats in a bar, the track doubles as a waltz. But rather than signalling an opportunity to dance the repeated guitar chords reflect the continuous grind of daily life which the narrator would "just like to leave for a week or two."

Individually the tracks showcase a solid talent and an awareness of how folk elements can be moulded into a strong indie ballad. But unfortunately overall, their talent is lost due to a lack of musical imagination.

Rating: 3/5

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Artist: First Aid Kit Title: Big Black & the.. Released: 26/01/2010 Buy Now \| View Details	Artist: First Aid Kit Title: Drunken Trees Released: 03/03/2009 Buy Now \| View Details