Album Review: First Aid Kit, Palomino

It has been over four years since First Aid Kit's Ruins, an honest and exquisite album that picked over the fiery fragments of youngest sibling Klara Soderberg’s broken relationship. If that collection was about heartbreak and loss, Palomino feels like a release of self-love, appreciation and acceptance.

The drum pattern and lyrics on the lead single ‘Out Of My Head’ contain palpable urgency and regret: “All the people that I have let down… Am I running out of time?”

The shadowy ‘Angel’ entwines resilience, darkness and hope – “Whatever has fear done for me... hold me back”. There is an air of resignation and deeply felt realisation on ‘Ready To Run’, leading into a bland album midsection with ‘Turning Onto You’, ‘Fallen Snow’ and the mildly clichéd ‘Wild Horses II’.

But the rich-sounding ‘The Last One’ showcases classic First Aid Kit, with its sumptuous and aching hook in the chorus. Current single ‘A Feeling That Never Came’ is sweet and dreamy, while ‘29 Palms Highway’ is also intriguing.

First Aid Kit are at their strongest when they let the dark interplay with the light. But after a challenging few years for both artists and listeners, the instinct to tip the balance towards re-birth and brightness on is understandable.

Out now. Listen/order here.