Larkin Poe were flagged up by GRTR! several moons ago, perhaps unusually as their brand of soft-rock Americana is pitched mainly at the folk to country crowd. They produced several exquisite EPs loosely reflecting the seasons and have toured in the UK albeit in a fairly low key way. They are back again this summer, including appearances at Cropredy.

If there was a criticism of their earlier recorded work, they were all nicely executed songs but perhaps a dearth of truly standout tracks. But there was always a feeling that there was good stuff waiting to get out - and on a much wider platform too.

Happily the girls have retained the charm of those recordings and fashioned a more purposeful and commercial offering which should further help their undoubted crossover potential including the harder-hitting 'Celebrate', the catchy 'Love Or Money'. and the darkly hypnotic 'Make It Hurt'. Although the wistful 'Russian Roulette' seems to take a direct cue from 'Eleanor Rigby' which for me detracts from the rest of the song.

When I spoke with Megan and Rebecca at the start of their UK tour in 2011 it was obvious that they were very much in control of their careers and my comments about a new Fleetwood Mac didn't go unnoticed. But I can't help thinking that they are still constrained by their core audience expectation. The inclusion of the country-tinged 'On The Fritz' may not appeal to a rock fan, for example, but further establishes their alt-country credentials.

'Thick As Thieves' continues the EP theme - barely 25 minutes long - a format that obviously works for the band but you can't help thinking 'where's the full album?'. However the real added value of this special edition is a full length and intimate concert on DVD filmed last year in Norway and including several of the tracks on 'Thick As Thieves'.

It is then an excellent introduction to the music of these engaging and infectious musical sisters and an appetite-whetter for those summer gigs.

****

Review by David Randall

David Randall presents 'Assume The Position' on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT

Interview & Gig review (March 2011)