A self-assured return from Grammy Award winners Larkin Poe.
‘Bloom‘ is a welcome return from Grammy award-winning sibling duo Larkin Poe. On this, their eighth studio offering, the sisters Megan and Rebecca Lovell, along with co-producer Tyler Bryant have put together a collection of blues-rock classics in the making.
The first quarter of the album comes out kicking and screaming in full ‘rock’ mode. This is fist pumping’, hairbrush-mic and air-guitar stuff. If this sounds too much, don’t be put off, the riff-soaked, anthemic style belies a hidden depth. As those already familiar with Larkin Poe have come to expect, the songwriting is first class. The album’s thematic core is about self-acceptance and as Megan Lovell explains “..[its] about finding yourself, knowing yourself, and separating the truth of who you are from societal expectations.’ The theme is taken up in opener ‘Mockingbird’, continues through to lead single, the Furry Lewis-inspired ‘Bluephoria’ and is advanced in the empowering ‘A Little Bit’ in which the Lovell sisters proudly proclaim “I’m not ashamed of what I’m not”.
As the album develops into the sublime love song ‘Easy Love (pt2)’ it returns to the style of 2022’s award-winning ‘Blood Harmony’. This is low-down blues, slick slide guitar, and a touch of Skynyrd, all with a modern twist. The Lovells tackle contemporary questions in the powerful ‘If God is a Woman’ (spoiler alert – “The devil is too”) and ‘Pearls’ examines the constant scrutiny of the digital age. Georgia natives, Larkin Poe operate out of Nashville these days and the touch of country in break-up song ‘Fool Outta Me‘ with its “big wheels turning” and “smoke out on the highway” sits nicely among the rock and blues. The poetic ‘You Are the River‘ revisits the theme of identity affirmation and it gently winds the listener down to fully appreciate the bluegrass-quality sibling harmonies of ‘Bloom Again‘ which close the album.
Once again Larkin Poe has delivered a superlative album with inspired harmonies, gorgeous instrumentation and superior, well-crafted lyrics. There is not a bad track in this collection – it’s pure quality.