Still been listening to Local Natives pretty much non-stop.
They blend an almost African tribal beat as their base, but the mandolin playing above it gives it a Calypso/Carribean flavor - like the guys who play the tin drums on street corners in the Bronx. It's not exactly one or the other, but it's a whole new kind of music I've never experienced before that just comes together beautifully - especially in "Airplane." Or maybe I didn't really appreciate it until now.
[YOUTUBE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EALQrClZtyQ&feature=related"]Local Natives - Airplane[/YOUTUBE]
Add some gorgeous three-part harmonies to make it feel even lighter and their drummer! Wow! I'm not gay, but if I were, I'd totally fuck the drummer solely on his ability to maintain some sick beats - though the rest of the band often does percussion as well. The real winner with this band is their rhythmic sense - that's where their focus is and it pays off big time.
It's enough to make the shyest wallflower strip off their clothes and twirl in joyous abandon.
So much life, so much energy, so much
joy.
Oh, who am I kidding? I'm totally gay.
[YOUTUBE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnTacC1qUmE"]Local Natives - World News[/YOUTUBE]
And by sick beats, the below song is what I meant. Believe it or not, it's in common time though slightly syncopated, except the rhythm builds like its own song for each measure. It's this progressive 1-
2-
3-
4... 1-
2-
3-
4... I might be wrong, but that's what I keep hearing. Song starts at :50.
[YOUTUBE="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4YO2v_xiYk&feature=related"]Local Natives - Wide Eyes (Starts at :50)[/YOUTUBE]
Love. This. Band.