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Song You Need to Know: Local Natives, ‘Statues in The Garden (Arras)’

Their first piece of new music since 2019, “Statues in The Garden (Arras)” sees Local Natives delivering both a dreamy slice of indie-rock, and a psychedlic visual.

Jonathan Chu*

Los Angeles indie-rock quintet Local Natives have returned with their first piece of new music since 2019 today, sharing the dreamy “Statues in The Garden (Arras)”.

Released today, the single is an eclectic showcase of the group’s varied talents, featuring shimmering guitars and dreamy melodies, with its swirling, intricate arrangement helping to frame the depiction of someone reconciling changes in themselves with a world that is also constantly changing.

A powerful example of stellar the slick indie-rock produced by Local Natives, the track’s “Arras” subtitle refers to the French town where the group first laid down a demo of the song.

Alongside the track, Local Natives have also released a mesmerisingly-psychedelic music video for the single. Teaming up with renowned artist and animator Jamie K Wolfe (King Krule, The Rolling Stones), the accompanying video is a masterclass of bold visuals and surreal imagery, pushing Wolfe’s vividly mind-bending aesthetic to its limits.

Local Natives released their fourth studio album, Violet Street, in April of 2019. Not content to take it easy, the group have shared a handful of new tunes since, including “Nova”, taken from the recording sessions of their last record, and “Dark Days”, a reimagined version of their 2016 track featuring the talents of Sylvan Esso vocalist Amelia Meath.

Earlier this year, the band also curated three-volume remix album entitled Violet Street (Remixes), enlisting an eclectic coalition of DJs, electronic artists, and producers, including the likes of Daedelus, Moon Boots, and GUM & Ginoli.

While it remains to be seen when Local Natives will be annoucing the details of album number five, “Statues in The Garden (Arras)” serves as the first taste of new music from the group, and provides listeners with a sneak peek as to what the band’s new era just might sound like.

Local Natives’ “Statues in The Garden (Arras)” is out now via Loma Vista Recordings.