It's all in the refrain to "Emmylou": 'I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June, And you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too.' A tribute to not only those musical couples, but some of the inspiration you'll find on the Swedish sisters' new album The Lion's Roar.
While the album opens with the aforementioned, and appropriately named, title track. It's the second cut, "Emmylou" that is such an attention grabber. As such a surprise, I took it around the office and asked, "What do you think..." Only to shortly follow it with the revelatory "I KNOW... Right? It's amazing..."
Klara and Johanna Söderberg have garnered attention for their harmony and command of folk music that sounds straight out of the traditional hotbeds here in the states, or from the 60's. Part of that attention has been their cover of Fleet Foxes' "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song". Another is their association with other modern folk artists making music today. Conor Oberst, of Bright Eyes and who helped popularize the "Omaha Sound", and James Felice of the Felice Brothers.
Both appear on "King of the World" with Oberst on vocals and Felice lending help on the accordion. I'm also very partial to another collaboration, the sisters teamed up Jack White for a couple of singles on his Third Man Records Blue Series.
The Lion's Roar is out in records stores tomorrow on London's Wichita Recordings. You can preview the album below.
