2010, Frenchkiss Records
Local Natives make soaring, sky-scraping harmonies, dreamy orchestral melodies, and throbbing tribal beats that bash their way into your soul. Theirs are songs you can dance to almost as well as you can swoon to them. Drawing a line from the vocal stylings of Crosby Stills Nash & Young and the Zombies through the more esoteric edges of post-punk and Afro-beat, this California five piece have communally crafted a brand of indie rock all their own. For Local Natives everything is a collaboration, from song writing duties to the band's self produced artwork. The three part harmonies come courtesy of keyboardist Kelcey Ayer, guitarists Ryan Hahn and Taylor Rice. Then there's Matt Frazier on drums and Andy Hamm on bass, who look after the band's equally impressive graphics and artwork.
It was in December 2008 that the band decamped to Silver Lake, where they all live in the same house. But the Silver Lake digs isn't the first house the band have shared. They lived together in Orange County too, in a place affectionately known as Gorilla Manor. "It was insanely messy and there were always friends over knocking around on guitars or our thrift store piano," says Ryan, "it was an incredible experience and Ill never forget that time." The original Gorilla Manor, where the band wrote the majority of their record, had such an impact that the band has paid tribute to the house by naming their debut album in its honor. The self-funded Gorilla Manor was recorded by Raymond Richards in West Los Angeles. Richards produced the record with Local Natives in his own Red Rockets Glare Studio. Featuring twelve sumptuous slices of dappled California sunlight and beguiling percussive rhythms, the album kicks off with the moody, driving, "Wide Eyes." Says Ryan: "It's about people's obsession with the miraculous and disastrous. . . with witnessing extraordinary events." The effervescent, mandolin boasting "Airplanes" follows, which Kelcey explains is about "longing to have met my grandfather, a great man and pilot, who died before I was born." Also included is the glorious "Sun Hands," which was released as a limited edition single on Chess Club back in July. According to Taylor, the lyrics describe "that all too familiar feeling of wanting what you can't have - especially when you once had it." There's a cover version in the mix too, a barely recognizable version of Talking Heads' "Warning Sign." "We've basically flipped the song on its head," says Matt, explaining how they switched David Byrne's original yelped vocals into a beautiful three-part harmony.
It was in December 2008 that the band decamped to Silver Lake, where they all live in the same house. But the Silver Lake digs isn't the first house the band have shared. They lived together in Orange County too, in a place affectionately known as Gorilla Manor. "It was insanely messy and there were always friends over knocking around on guitars or our thrift store piano," says Ryan, "it was an incredible experience and Ill never forget that time." The original Gorilla Manor, where the band wrote the majority of their record, had such an impact that the band has paid tribute to the house by naming their debut album in its honor. The self-funded Gorilla Manor was recorded by Raymond Richards in West Los Angeles. Richards produced the record with Local Natives in his own Red Rockets Glare Studio. Featuring twelve sumptuous slices of dappled California sunlight and beguiling percussive rhythms, the album kicks off with the moody, driving, "Wide Eyes." Says Ryan: "It's about people's obsession with the miraculous and disastrous. . . with witnessing extraordinary events." The effervescent, mandolin boasting "Airplanes" follows, which Kelcey explains is about "longing to have met my grandfather, a great man and pilot, who died before I was born." Also included is the glorious "Sun Hands," which was released as a limited edition single on Chess Club back in July. According to Taylor, the lyrics describe "that all too familiar feeling of wanting what you can't have - especially when you once had it." There's a cover version in the mix too, a barely recognizable version of Talking Heads' "Warning Sign." "We've basically flipped the song on its head," says Matt, explaining how they switched David Byrne's original yelped vocals into a beautiful three-part harmony.
Other Local Natives Items
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[Vinyl] LP $16.98 -
MP3 $9.99
Customer Reviews
3 reviews
Diane LearyI met Kelcey and the band on a flight to LA last July with my mom to see my twin sister. My husband had recently passed away from cancer complications -and my dad too- so this was a big deal- taking my 82 yr old mom on a plane (she had a near fatal accident after my dad died). Enough about me- Kelcey was very charming and put up with all my 20 questions and I listened to Airplanes on the plane!! Fast forward to November- Local Natives were at the Club Metronome in Burlington Vermont where I live- amazing concert- see video Stuck in the Mud for the rest of the story. I LOVE their music- and this is from a 50 something who was stuck on Celtic and 70s classic rock.
Bre CustodioI was given this album as a gift and I am so thankful. This album hit my ears and my soul hard. There is so much thought and energy put into this album. It's like your mom's cheesecake that can't be outdone by anyone. Their music sounds like it is alive and breathing with a heartbeat that matches mine. It feels like swimming naked in the ocean.
I can't wrap my head around the music and what it took to come together and compose something like this. It hasn't left my car CD player for 3 months and I still hear something new in each song every time. I try listening to the radio and find that most other music just sounds dead compared to this. I honestly have to say this is the best album my ears have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Thank you Local Natives for sharing your talents so freely with the world. Your music is art.
I can't wrap my head around the music and what it took to come together and compose something like this. It hasn't left my car CD player for 3 months and I still hear something new in each song every time. I try listening to the radio and find that most other music just sounds dead compared to this. I honestly have to say this is the best album my ears have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Thank you Local Natives for sharing your talents so freely with the world. Your music is art.
Bre CustodioI was given this album as a gift and I am so thankful. This album hit my ears and my soul hard. There is so much thought and energy put into this album. It's like your mom's cheesecake that can't be outdone by anyone. Their music sounds like it is alive and breathing with a heartbeat that matches mine. It feels like swimming naked in the ocean.
I can't wrap my head around the music and what it took to come together and compose something like this. It hasn't left my car CD player for 3 months and I still hear something new in each song every time. I try listening to the radio and find that most other music just sounds dead compared to this. I honestly have to say this is the best album my ears have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Thank you Local Natives for sharing your talents so freely with the world. Your music is art.
I can't wrap my head around the music and what it took to come together and compose something like this. It hasn't left my car CD player for 3 months and I still hear something new in each song every time. I try listening to the radio and find that most other music just sounds dead compared to this. I honestly have to say this is the best album my ears have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Thank you Local Natives for sharing your talents so freely with the world. Your music is art.