Local Natives “Airplanes”/ “Warning Sign” (Talking Heads Cover)
In the cleverly meta- opening seconds of “Airplanes” (by unsigned California five-piece Local Natives), a couple bars of isolated piano maudlin trigger a hissing response from a crowd, at-once conveying our own at-home snarlings of them being another boring Coldplay clone. But then a steady drum stomp enters the frame, and those rowdy “Boo!”‘s quickly turn into excited cheers. Something interesting seemed to be around the corner…but would the Natives be able to follow through in satisfying the sudden intrigue of both their “fake” and “real” (us) audiences?
By the time we get our first taste of their dreamy three-part male harmonies going on about Japanese sticks being kept in a desk “made up…made up of wood”, that question is met with a resounding “YESSS!!!”.
“Airplanes” lands as one of those records that gets you all hyped for what new musical treasures await us in 2009. Dressed in pretty, melancholic shades that suddenly erupt into brief fits of boom-click thunder, it’s a moving piece built on a wish to have personally known the late grandfather they’ve heard so much about through their father’s tales. “It sounds like we would have had a great deal to say/ To eachother/ I bet when I leave my body for the sky/ The wait will be worth it,” goes the marriage of vocals, already sounding like floating angels en route to that after-life kingdom beyond the clouds.
Meanwhile, showing that they’re well prepared for the swarm of blog attention no doubt about to befall them in the coming new year (accompanied by hopes of nabbing that elusive record deal), the Local Natives pull out another winning gem in their cover of Talking Heads’ 1978 sophomore album highlight, “Warning Sign”.
Smoothing over the original’s jittery alt-funk attack with their creamy vocal polish and flowery guitar melodies, the Natives take lifts the record beyond the disturbing manic of it’s origin towards heaven-bound aural highs.
Definitely note these guys under the “ones to watch” category.
Their debut album, Gorilla Manor, arrives in early 2009.
DL: “Airplanes” (alt)
DL: “Warning Sign (Talking Heads Cover)” (alt)
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