Hummingbird Infectious Records***

For a period in 2009, Local Natives were as revered on the Irish music scene, playing packed gigs to audiences enthused by their debut, Gorilla Manor. Their second album isn't as instantly persuasive, but Hummingbird consistently and intriguingly smoulders rather than immediately blazes into life. Dreamy psych-folk is scaled back in favour of songs that softly sputter into life, such as Black Spot and Breakers. Matt Frazier's wall-of-sound, National-style drumming impresses on Heavy Feet and Woolly Mammoth. His offbeat drumming style also illuminates standout track Three Months, its warm piano motif given extra clarity and edginess by Taylor Rice's startling vocal. This album is not quite the finished article, but Local Natives are on the right path. thelocalnatives.com

Download:Three Months, Ceilings