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Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

Local Natives have a pulsing heartbeat and a passion that spills out...

Rating: 8

For the time being, harmonised vocals paired with acoustic guitar strums will evoke comparisons with Fleet Foxes. Local Natives are certainly cut from a similar cloth to their fellow Americans – after all, they claim to devote more time to crafting their vocals than the music that backs them up. However, whereas Fleet Foxes remain quaint and delicate, Local Natives have a pulsing heartbeat and a passion that spills out, songs such as ‘Sun Hands’ and ‘Shape Shifter’ magnificently crescendo through rhythmic shifts. They know grace, but they also know the Arcade Fire’s explosive dramatics. A compelling, intricate album in which to lose yourself.

Mike Haydock