First Aid Kit, Puss N Boots, Frazey Ford, Jenny Lewis, London Grammar and Liliy and Madeliene

It has been well over a year since I last posted reviews on my latest music purchases, so there are quite a few to mention here.

On the 28th January I entered a post about their concert I went to see at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith where First Aid Kit showcased their latest Album Stay Gold. Their music is exactly what I like these days, that crossover between country and folk with the added value of the Soderberg sisters' close harmony. Stay Gold is a more mature recording than their two earlier albums with stand out tracks such as  Master Pretender, the hooligan music of Heaven Knows and a track that is now one of my favourites of all time called A Long Time Ago. 

Catching up with their earlier recordings, their first album The Big Black and The Blue is far more an accoustic folk set. There is one brilliant track called Ghost Town which they sung unaccompanied and unamplified at Hammersmith and which brought the house down. Apart from that, the girls are just warming up for what comes later.

Their second album The Lion's Roar is a development from their first. The marvelous opening title track sets the standard, followed by the equally wonderful Emmylou. Some of their other musical heroes get a mention. The rest of the album doesn't quite hit those heights, but there is not a dud song to be had. But then the final track King of the World is another crowd pleaser, as we found out on the night.

Puss N Boots are Sasha Dobson, Nora Jones and Catherine Popper. These friends got together, wrote five new songs and decided that an album, No Fools No Fun, with seven covers might be good. And it is. Some laid back playing from girls and fine vocals. It sounded as if they were having fun.

The second album from Canadian singer songwriter Frazey Ford is a "warm, breezy, and not surprisingly soulful set of R&B-kissed country-pop confection" (not my words, I found her music hard to describe). Apart from the solid set of songs on Indian Ocean, what I liked about the recording was how the organ and horn section worked so well together. In fact, the instrumentation is some of the best I have heard on record for some time. It makes for a fine album.

The Voyager is the third album from American singer songwriter Jenny Lewis. Produced by Ryan Adams, you can hear is influence many times on this collection of enjoyable, if not outstanding songs. Although Just One of the Guys is clever and the final title track a great way to finish the set.

London Grammar are Hannah Reid, Dan Rothman and Dominic Major. I didn't think that I would like something quite so "modern" and where the orchestration is so electronic. A debut album that came in at No 2 in the charts would seem a young person's recording. But the quietness of the backing on If You Wait together with the plaintive and clear vocals from Hannah make for diverting and restful album. I guess that this is not for the hurly burly of a live gig, but as late night background, it cant be beat.

And finally the album Fumes from Lily and Madeliene is sometimes as quiet. Actually it is almost somnambulistic ( remember Beatrix Potter?). But the uptempo songs are fairly formulaic so it's best to relax with the slower numbers like Lips and Hips. Someone mentioned that you would like the album if you enjoyed those from First Aid Kit. And I did.