EP Review: The Native - 'Looking Back'
The Native return with more indie fueled finesse that is sure to electrify your mood, just as well as wind you down.
In their newest musical venture, Plymouth-based band The Native take a dive into the indie-music genre that has followed them since their first release four years ago, with their pensive yet hopeful EP Looking Back, packed with enjoyable compositions and great production.
The EP begins with a blast of nostalgic lyrics from frontman Charlie Noordewier, promptly backed by energetic guitar tones and a superb rhythm section with great attention to simplicity, especially on the bass, setting the tone for the neat production and composition of the 6-track project. The mood is set for the indie emotional roller-coaster the band takes you on.
Looking Back is the first sign of synthesizer landscapes that accompany a lot of the project, with a groovy build up as the track progresses. The use of the piano also takes off on this track, giving it a much more full-sounding mix and displaying the top-tier production. This is also proven by the great bass tone heard on this track which is consistently energizing Noordewier’s vocal abilities even further.
Changes is the introduction to the acoustic guitar which features regularly in the second part of the project, with the warm piano tone again adding depth to the mix which peaks in the incredible chorus on this song. The theme of self-improvement fits well with the melancholic themes earlier expressed.
All or Nothing is another acoustic track, albeit much more laid back than the previous one. Great picking sections on electric guitar follow the entire length of the song, emphasising the emotional depth in the lyrics and showing more attention to the guitar tone than before, especially towards the end.
20 Something is one of the most memorable tracks here, kicking off with a great bass riff which really energises the sound, and is sure to stay playing in your head throughout the day even hours after you listen to it. The composition later takes a wild turn and builds to a loud finale with a great build up on the drum section before beautifully coming back to the initial bass riff. An indie banger would be the most common description for a track such as this, and rightly so.
The EP ends with If Not Now Then When, a fully acoustic ballad which slows down the energy earlier displayed and puts Noordewier’s vocal range and lyrical depth on full display. “Forever never felt so long” they sing as the track peaks in its emotional journey.
Altogether this is a great indie project with superb production, with great attention to arrangement and composition with little instrumental variation. There are moments here which are indeed quite memorable for a band which is only in the early stages of its’ journey and show great promise to be the next indie sensations from the south of Britain.
Words by Jay Cohen
