The Lovell sisters follow on from their Grammy-Winning success with 2024's 'Blood Harmony', with an album that stays faithful to their Americana roots while staying true to themselves.
On the surface that might make the record sound like another motivational New Year's Insta post that makes you feel so woefully inadequate that you abandon all of your hopes of your best life before January is out. Fear not, while self-acceptance and is central to the album, Larkin Poe's authenticity in terms of sound and style on this album ensures that this is an album that they ensure that we embrace the flaws and idiosyncrasies that make us real.
Megan explains,“In one way or another, pretty much all of the songs on this album are about finding yourself, knowing yourself, and separating the truth of who you are from societal expectations.”
While 'Blood Harmony' was filled with outlaw rock and introverted skuzzy blues tones, 'Bloom' represents the sisters coming out of winter dormancy. 'Mockingbird' opens the album with an unfurling statement of intent replete with Rebecca's warbling classic rock guitar and commanding vocals. It's a confident puissant album opener that dips into country rock. If we're gonna step back to those motivational posts this would be the one that encourages you to dance and sing like nobody is watching.
The sisters explore southern rock on the 'Easy Love pt 1' and then go full belt 70s classic rock with 'Bluephoria'. With lyrics inspired by blues legend Furry Lewis, the track jumps back to some of their raw earlier work but then spreads its wings. 'If God is A Woman' is another percussive that Megan's breathy, ethereal harmonies and a driving beat that harks back to the duo's earlier work.
'Pearls' has that pulsating heartbeat drumbeat as its base but 'You Are The River' is perhaps the most obvious reinforcement of this positivity. An ode to self-worth and self-love and filled with those glorious harmonies it's a track that is not only a self-proclamation, it's as if the sisters are directing the sentiment directly to the listener. 'Bloom Again' is inspired by The harmonies of The Everley Brothers, with a yearning lap steel descanting the track, bringing the album full circle and back to Larkin Poe's roots.
With 'Bloom' the sisters have brought all the threads of their previous albums into the record. They have matured as songwriters, and this resonates through the album. Their continued musical evolution makes 'Bloom' feel as though Larkin Poe are stepping into their prime.
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