Larkin Poe Bloom Tricki-Woo Records

I've been a Larkin Poe fan since I first stumbled on an Amazon link  to their Peach album from 2018, and I was very surprised, even overwhelmed, when I first heard them doing the deep gospel/blues, "Preachin' Blues." Getting that sound from a couple of then 20-somethings was just plain crazy.

Since then, I've always struggled to insert their music into a well-defined category, finally just giving up and putting them into a bucket of "great music." This sister duo seamlessly blends deep blues, Americana, roots, Southern rock, and whatever else they think fits in.

Their seventh studio album, Bloom (Tricki-Woo Records), continues the trend of never being sure what to expect from Larkin Poe. It's the usual mix of genre-bending styles. This one seems to be a bit heavier with the guitar sounds, and I mean that in a good way. As usual, Rebecca Lovell handles vocals with her powerful, throaty voice, as well as playing guitar, while Megan Lovell consistently tears it up on lap steel and dobro. Producer Tyler Bryant also fills in at times on guitar and bass. The rest of the band includes Caleb Crosby (drums), Tarka Layman (bass), Eleonore Denig (strings), and Michael Webb (Hammond B3).

I'm going to start this review with my favorite cut, "If God Is A Woman," paying tribute to strong and feisty women, heard as Rebecca sings, "...If God is a woman, the Devil is, too, better get down on your knees, I'm gonna pray for you ..." Wow! Just a great, great song. The opener, "Mockingbird," is a song of self-reflection with a steady beat and plenty of heavy guitar accompaniment. Rebecca grabs your heart with lines like, "...mockingbird singing a thousand songs that don't belong to me ..." The key lesson with this number is to keep looking ahead and not backwards.

"Buephoria," the first single released from this album, uses lyrics inspired by Furry Lewis. It gets psychedelic at first before turning into more of a country blues/rock mash-up, with a big crescendo of sound late in the tune. "Little Bit" is a slow blues ballad, with nice slide from Megan, and vocals from Rebecca get stronger as the song progresses, proclaiming that she wants than a little more than a little bit.

"Easy Love Pt.1" and "Easy Love Pt. 2" are not positioned back to back on the album, but Pt. 2 is kind of a sequel to Pt. 1. The first version progresses with a steady beat, as Rebecca sings tenderly of that man she loved, her voice being heard over a cacophony of guitar sounds. Megan's slide work is just so wonderful here, and those tender vocals of Rebecca really soar toward the end. Pt.2 starts as a slow blues with a very quiet slide intro, with Rebecca singing, "...no matter where we are, you make it easy ..." Two very strong love songs --- similar messages, different sound level. Megan's solo in the second half takes the song to a different level before Rebecca's voice gains power as she brings this love story to an end.

The Lovell sisters pay tribute to their home state --- Georgia --- on the up-tempo, high-volume blues, "Nowhere Fast," with plenty of guitar sounds behind them. I hesitate to use the cacophonous term again, but that describes it. Rebecca really states her dissatisfaction with the status quo on "Pearls," singing over a thumping rhythm that she's going to do what she wants and tells the other person to shake her hand like he'd shake another man's. She again tells him that he can keep those pearls, she's doesn't want them.

"Fool Outta Me" is a fast-moving driving song (perhaps more of a 'driving away' song), repeatedly saying, "... let the big wheels turn ...," and after giving advice,  "... what do I know, make a fool out of me ..." Megan again lays down some really nice steel chords. "You Are The River" is a song of reassurance, as Rebecca sings, "... you are the river, you are the vine, you're going to grow what you need in time ..."

The Lovell sisters close the album with "Bloom Again," showing their sisterly harmony vocals in a slow love song with more of a country feel, especially with Megan's subtly beautiful slide playing. But just when you think you see where this tune is going, the volume and energy increases, as happens quite often throughout the album. In other words, don't get comfortable because they are going to hit your heart with a final blast.

Bloom is a delightful album that doesn't adhere to any boundaries. It's just two sisters performing heartfelt music in their own way, with its complex lyrical themes over top of the often heavy instrumentation.Another gem by Larkin Poe.

--- Bill Mitchell