Larkin Poe – Bloom

Nashville-based sister duo Larkin Poe, made up of Rebecca and Megan Lovell, started their Southern country-rock career under this moniker after disbanding from previous sister trio The Lovell Sisters. An important message that lies close to their heart, and is revisited time and time again in their music, is that of championing women and reminding one another of the strength it holds. This connects greatly with fans and is a topic that the band remain loyal to in the writing behind their upcoming album, Bloom. Having worked tirelessly with co-producer Tyler Bryant to construct the record, it hones in on the sisters’ connection with their roots in American music and they describe its story as “finding oneself amidst the noise of the world”. Currently touring across 15 countries with countless upcoming dates, this iconic pair are blazing upwards in the industry with a dust trail in their wake.

Kicking everything off is Mockingbird. Opening with an infectious guitar riff that carries its audience into the song, this number encourages head-banging with its high-charge energy. Soulful, buttery vocals enter soon after and melt in the ear, pairing crisply with the guitar without drowning one another out, achieved by the perfect height in the mix to prevent listeners straining to hear every layer, a common mistake artists make. Its belting, heartfelt melody immediately draws the listener in and is an undeniable highlight. 

Interestingly, the next track is broken into two sections, the second of which is heard later in the tracklist. Easy Love Pt 1 guides you with gentle storytelling about meeting a person who ticks all the right boxes, with attractive quirks that you can’t seem to get out of your head. Rushed and energetic, it conveys a squealing level of excitement one feels when first meeting a new love. Easy Love Pt 2 contrasts this high energy, instead slowing to a pace that allows you to take a breath. This reflects the comfort one feels when reaching a stage of contentment in a relationship. “You make it easy” is repeated throughout the song, in particular towards the outro in which a clean key change – following a dramatic beat drop – dials up the energy even more so and the duo practically chant these words out with evident joy and satisfaction. The splitting of a track into two parts is an inventive approach that is laid out so simply yet executed so well.

Pearls is a number for the girls: an angry rock track with lyrics like “I don’t tell you how to spin your world” and “Keep your pearls” that bring an endearing level of sassiness into the mix. Little Bit and You Are the River bring the record down, however. Little Bit is a comfortable yet predictable listen and You Are the River makes the same impression. Despite some nice lyrics focusing on nature in the latter, such as “You are the vine / You’re going to grow watching me”, it seems to plod along and not go anywhere. These two tracks aren’t as convincing as their counterparts and wouldn’t be missed.

However, this is turned around by If God Is a Woman, which delivers the most notable climax of the album. Powerful from just the title alone, this is one that is daring and proud, unafraid to question the norm and sinks its teeth into a powerful statement surrounding the strength and capability of women. With clever lyricism, such as “If God is a woman / Then the devil is too”, this brings to light the duo’s revisited focus on the importance of championing yourself and the women around you. This is attractive to longtime fans of Larkin Poe who will recognise the loyal return to their signature topic focus in their writing. 

Closing the album is Bloom Again. The octave-apart melody and harmony of the sisters is a pretty blend, and the gentler mood brings the energy down to a more subdued note, contrasting largely to the first half of the album, which was chock-full of high-energy numbers. This doesn’t last long, however, when a sudden flip in the track brings a surging increase of dynamics and an intense electric guitar solo to close the curtains.

Speaking to the rise of the superfan that surrounds strong, sexy, independent female artists who are taking the world by storm, including the likes of Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, this country rock duo fit nicely into this powerful space. Larkin Poe’s music will appeal to many, particularly young women finding their feet and figuring out who they are meant to be. Like the elder sisters one never had, Larkin Poe’s Bloom is a guide and inspiration to fans and reminds the world of who this band are, true to their core.

Emily Downie
Image: Robby Klein

Bloom is released on 24^th January 2025. For further information or to order the album visit Larkin Poe’s website here.

Watch the video for the single If God Is a Woman here: