Album of The Month

Sorry, did not quite get this done in time for February, but let's just consider it the "Album of Last Month".

So.

Local Natives' Hummingbird.

I have been waiting several years for this L.A.-based group to release a sophomore effort.  Thankfully, at the close of the January month of 2013, the second offering, Hummingbird, was released.  Local Natives' first record, Gorilla Manor (released 2009), is a beautiful concoction that blends folksy song writing with mellow soundscapes and tribal rhythms.  And the latest effort Hummingbird continues in this aural vain though with more nuanced and perfected sonic quality.  The dreamy synths, trance inducing drums, lush vocal harmonies, and sensitively personal lyric content are all intact on this wonderful long player providing a unique and versatile emotive palette.


A quick glimpse at this band reveals the qualities typically intrinsic to your average, crappy hipster band commonly found in Philadelphia or Baltimore; i.e. a 2:1 guitar to keyboard ratio, auxiliary percussion assembled with the keyboard player, two distinct lead vocalists obscuring the concept of a frontman, tall bass player, band members switching instruments for a minuscule portion of the live set, and no less than two dudes with facial hair.  But let me tell you, these guys pull it off.  Just goes to show that California takes a specific trendy thing and improves upon it?

Anywho, I am thoroughly impressed with this group as they have continued their trek into their music careers with a wonderful second album.  It is mellow and excitable, introverted and dance inducing.  Local Natives are successful at injecting a little bit of everything into snapshots encompassing life in melody, harmony, rhythms, and space.  All in a days work for a music group, eh?

Well, thank yous to the members of Local Natives for providing such inspiring and satisfying music.  Well done.

We are on the road again, will have more for you soon.

Ty

Local Natives Hummingbird: 

iTunes
Spotify