Daytrotter Studio Session by Local Natives
Great mini session from Local Natives. If not native to this particular locality you should be. The Natives combine sun drenched Beach Boys esque vocal harmonies with a dark hearted, anglophone melancholy. Their debut opus, Gorrila Manor, was one of my favourite LPs of last year. Sprawling, rich instrumentation, with a very inventive take on well worn influences. They even tackle a Talking Heads cover in 'Warning Sign' and retain dignity, perhaps even, dare I say it, bettering the original.
The session sees them playing fast and loose with their own material, rearranging and reinterpreting themselves as befits a band brimming with ideas. Just listen to the drumming on the 'Wide Eyes' that sounds as if it's being tapped out on chopsticks. Lead singer Kelsey Ayer's vocals remain crystalline and flawless too. Damn, I'd love to see ths band live.
The song 'Cubism Dream' made me really notice what a great vocalist/ lyricist he is. A skype conversation sees ex lovers talking "on a small screen, A cubism dream, the most beautiful squares I'd ever seen" (read the whole lyrics here). Now if that's not inventive and evocative writing I'll eat my blog shaped hat and call it a day. I find it impossible to repress a spine tingling shudder when listening to the final denouement, as Ayer's vocals take flight and attempt to compass the distance between the lovers. It's a lovely song from a band unafraid to embrace emotion and grandeur.
These are LA hipsters with a heart.
I have linked the album below just in case people aren't familiar with it. These songs from the session are by no means the strongest on the album, however, I think the live versions above are vastly superior to their recorded counterparts. You could do a fun little compare and contrast job.....
Gorilla Manor by Local Natives
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