Drunken Trees

Drunken Trees serves as the definitive introduction to First Aid Kit, released when Johanna and Klara Söderberg were just 17 and 15 years old. Originally issued on Karin Dreijer's (The Knife) Rabid Records, the EP captures the duo before they were swept into the polished world of international Americana. The recording context is vital; it was largely produced in their home, resulting in a lo-fi, intimate sonic character that distinguishes it from the studio-heavy 'The Lion's Roar'. While the UK re-release famously included their viral Fleet Foxes cover, the original seven tracks establish their own mythos, blending traditional Appalachian folk influences with a cold, Nordic sensibility. Critics at the time, including those at NME and Drowned in Sound, noted the uncanny maturity of their songwriting and the 'blood harmony' that would become their career hallmark. It remains a foundational text for the late-2000s indie folk revival.