What came first Haim or Larkin Poe? Haim formed in 2006 and it took an awful long time for them to release their single-packed debut. Larkin Poe formed in 2010 and have just released their first effort, despite releasing 5 EPs previously. I ask the question because there are similarities to both bands. They both contain only sisters with different quantities: Haim (3), Larkin Poe (2) and they both hail from the States: Haim (California), Larkin Poe (Georgia) and attempt to make a dated roots rock sounds seem cool again reaching a wilder audience, beyond the realms of middle-of-the road radio.

 

Larkin Poe also experiment outside the boundaries in the genre, in the same way Haim did in “Song No.6” and “Days are Gone”. Larkin Poe’s “Jessie” contains a backing track identical to the beginning of The Venture’s Hawaii 5:0, “Dandelion” uses Lana De Rey’s low-fi telephone speaker sound from “Ultra violence” and “Elephant” contains a semi-rapping speaking style of singing. The lyrics aren’t as strong as on Haim, which will be factor in it’s longetivity but a crowd full of tracks focusing on a theme of death is intriguing, including “Dandelion” which is a strangely uplifting track seemingly about saying goodbyes at a funeral: “We are gathered here today to say goodbye” and other procedures contained within the ceremony. It’s hard to tell though if it’s about a personal friend or a celebrity icon that they are mourning. Opener and destined-to-be-a-hit “Jailbreak”, is a delightfully stereotypical roots rock track and addictive for it’s Black Keys” Lonely boy under layer, which provokes clapping and impulsive movement.

 

Neither sisters are called “Larkin” or “Poe”, with Rebecca and Megan taking their name from their great-great-great grandfather, who was a distant cousin of Edgar Allan Poe. Even if their lyrics aren’t quite as poetic, their passion for storytelling stays within the family. MTH