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Local natives
But I will wait for you
Loma Vista
May 13, 2024
Web Exclusive
Indie natives of Los Angeles, the local natives have long been admired for their rich vocal tapestries and sleek arrangements. New album But I will wait for you continues to refine their carefully sculpted sound, moving the band toward a studio mastery that is highly impressive yet occasionally unsatisfying.
The album is presented as a companion track to the 2023 release Time will wait No A, “Perhaps not an answer to a question, but an exhalation to an inhale,” in the words of the band. The opening track “Alpharetta” definitely sounds like some kind of release. Softly plucked acoustic guitar floats for a few bars in the shadow of what sounds like a pedal steel line (but probably isn't) before a cascade of perfect harmonies arrives with such sweetness that they practically warm your insides. It's a pattern that gracefully extends to the rest of the record, as smooth keyboard washes, subtly propulsive rhythms and understated guitar provide a rich backdrop for the band's vocal collages.
And these guys sure can sing. Whether it's the perfect alchemy of Taylor Rice and Kelcey Ayer trading lines on the unusual single “April” or the soaring Beach Boys-like croons that introduce “But I'll Wait For You,” the pristine, sunny glow is the same. .
That such a polished sound can be a double-edged sword goes without saying, but the danger is real. The surface of the songs is so bright that the record doesn't so much impact as leave a vaguely pleasant impression. You wonder if there's something at stake beneath all the beauty.
Turns out there's some hurtful knowledge here. you just have to look under the gloss. There's a kind of bittersweet acceptance that runs through the album, a cataloging of moments that disappear the moment they're recognized as something special. The search zeroes in on the title track as Rice makes a simple plea, a statement so unadorned that it took him the entire record to arrive. “I want something that will last.” (www.localnatives.com)
Author Rating: 7/10
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