New old ways in the indie pop

The world of indie pop has changed enormously in recent years: The industrial sounds and the raspy guitar riffs soft gently plucked mandolins and hippie songs. What the Fleet Foxes have shown us, want the Local Natives now bring on their debut album "Gorilla Manor" to end: you are trying to give the indie pop a push in the other direction.
The five band members Kelcey Ayer, Taylor Rice, Ryan Hahn, Matthew Frazier and Andy Hamm excited for the first time at the 2009 SXSW Festival in Austin (Texas) stir when they played nine shows there and left the alternative event as a new tip. With the help of producer Raymond Richards, they recorded their debut in California, where the band for a long time lived together in a house that was called "Gorilla Manor" after a short time. "It was an utter mess, always were there any friends of ours and played on our guitar or the piano. It was a wonderful time," says singer Kelcey Ayer in an interview.

Initially prepares the album the listener difficulties. The songs seem initially overloaded and bulky. From footed indie folk only seems to be no trace times when you get purposed cumbersome Song apparatuses such as "Stranger Things". However, it soon becomes clear that no great genius melodies or harmonies are the strength of the Local Natives, but the percussion: Multi-layered rhythm elements form for each song the backbone. Drummer Matthew Frazier shows its full ability: Everything clicks somehow, rustling noises and makes, is good enough to serve as a rhythm instrument. Are complemented by the song Strings, a pointedly set piano, straightforward guitar riffs, striking bass lines and vocals of keyboardist Kelcey Ayer, whose voice was recorded sometimes doubled and sometimes heard in duet with guitarist Taylor Rice. To view the five guys that they are true perfectionists in instrumentation and no sound strike randomly. Nevertheless, it may happen that you get caught up in listening in how we imagine makes parallels with bands such as Arcade Fire or Vampire Weekend, whose sound often resonates.

The opener "Wide Eyes" or "Cards & Quarters" were examples of emanating from the rhythm section song, which is characteristic of the songwriting on the album.
Thematically, the album is of fantastic experiences, life obstacles and fear of loss that will be addressed, for example in "Airplanes" when Kelcey Ayer mourns his prematurely deceased grandfather.
In the long run almost brilliant percussion and drums do not help on the everyday texts away: "Cold Toes new sheets / welcomed all the same / we know if we go / it's only temporary." The lyrics act over long distances very stilted and so let the bitter aftertaste of affectation arise. So it can happen that one of the band does not decrease their songs.
The melodies are indeed no 08/15-compositions, but they are not the most imaginative, which are currently heard in the indie scene. The song "Airplanes" starts with a piano intro. In the background are boos heard and only starts as the drums turn this into whistles and applause. Many songs on the album which is unfortunately characteristic: Not infrequently, save only the incursions of drummer Matthew Frazier a song before slipping.