Little Dragon | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Instantly recognizable by the coolly expressive vocals of Yukimi Nagano, the output of Swedish quartet Little Dragon could be summarized as predominantly downtempo electronic pop. At the same time, theyve naturally incorporated a left-field mix of contemporary R&B;, hip-hop, and underground dance music with references dating back to disco, new wave, and classic vocal jazz. The band made their full-length debut with Little Dragon (2007), the source of the chilling ballad "Twice," beginning a streak of Top Five dance/electronic albums with Ritual Union (2011), and hit the Top 15 of the U.K. chart with Nabuma Rubberband (2014), which earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album. Since then, theyve added to their discography with releases such as Season High (2017) and the Lover Chanting EP (2018). Throughout their career, the band has expanded their audience with a shrewd and continuous array of featured appearances on recordings by Gorillaz, SBTRKT, Kaytranada, and BadBadNotGood, among several other artists. Yukimi Nagano (vocals, keyboards, percussion), Erik Bodin (drums, keyboards), Fredrik Wallin (keyboards, bass, percussion), and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards, drums) formed Little Dragon in their native Gothenburg, Sweden. Named after a tag Nagano was given in response to her occasionally fiery studio temperament, the band made their recorded debut in 2006 with the "Test" single, released on the independent Scandinavian label Off the Wall. This led to a deal with the larger British indie Peacefrog, who released their self-titled debut album the next August. Its fusion of left-field jazz, R&B;, and hip-hop flavorings found a cult audience and was given a boost when the opening song, the hushed piano ballad "Twice," was featured during the 2008-2009 season of Greys Anatomy. Rather than continue in the same mode, the quartet changed direction with icy, hook-loaded electro-pop for their second album, Machine Dreams, released in August 2009. Subsequent touring with Gorillaz, who also featured the quartet on the 2010 album Plastic Beach ("Empire Ants," "To Binge"), as well as additional studio collaborations with Dave Siteks Maximum Balloon ("If You Return"), Raphael Saadiq ("Just Dont"), and SBTRKT ("Wildfire"), increased visibility and anticipation for the bands third album. A fusion and refinement of the first two LPs, Ritual Union was met with some international commercial success upon its July 2011 arrival, peaking at number 47 on the Swedish national chart, number 22 in the U.K., and number 78 in the U.S., where it also hit number four on the dance/electronic chart. Little Dragons featured appearances soon extended to include recordings by DJ Shadow ("Scale It Back") and Big Boi ("Thom Pettie"). Predominantly self-contained to that point with their own output, Little Dragon themselves started to look outside their bubble by making their fourth LP with Robin Hannibal and De La Souls Dave on multiple tracks, while the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra provided another layer. At the same time, they drew inspiration from Prince and Janet Jackson, as well as the dark, cold winter environment of their hometown. The result, Nabuma Rubberband -- their first LP for Loma Vista in the U.S. and Because Music elsewhere -- appeared in May 2014, after a run of three promotional singles. It went Top 15 U.K. and Top 25 U.S., where it also narrowly missed the very top of the dance/electronic chart, and months later was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Dance/Electronic Album. Through the next couple years, Little Dragon were heard on tracks headlined by the likes of Odesza ("Light") and Mac Miller ("The Festival"), as well as Kaytranada ("Bullets"), Flume ("Take a Chance"), and De La Soul ("Drawn"). They returned in April 2017 with album five, Season High, their third straight Top Five dance/electronic chart entry. By the end of the year, they also released a non-album track, "Peace of Mind," produced with Raphael Saadiq and featuring Faith Evans. In 2018, they released the singles "Sway Daisy" and "Best Friends," assisted BadBadNotGood on "Tried," and moved to the Ninja Tune label for the four-track EP Lover Chanting, issued that November. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 9 Title: Little Dragon Released: 2007-08-15 Tracks: 12 Duration: 50:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Twice (03:06) 2 Turn Left (04:05) 3 No Love (04:26) 4 Recommendation (03:52) 5 Constant Surprises (04:33) 6 Forever (04:31) 7 After the Rain (04:04) 8 Place to Belong (03:11) 9 Stormy Weather (04:27) 10 Test (04:27) 11 Wink (03:43) 12 Scribbled Paper (06:07) |
| Little Dragon : Allmusic album Review : For years now, the world of music has been too global and interconnected for one to truly be surprised at an outfit such as Little Dragon, but its no less a wonder that a sound as American as soul and R&B; can infuse the music this pervasively of a group of high school buddies from Sweden. Little Dragon is a dynamic self-titled debut that is yet another credible and enchanting Euro-approximation of soul and rhythm & blues. Vocalist Yukimi Nagano displays all the subtle inflections and conspicuous acrobatics that have identified the R&B; genre for years, but specifically the more recent paradigms of the Chaka Khans and MJBs, noted easily on the albums highlight "Constant Surprises." Meanwhile, "Wink" is a sexy, synth-heavy club banger that might conjure some of the more poppish acts (Rihanna). But the album -- and group -- dont stop there, thankfully. They give you everything from quaint piano ballads ("Twice") to jazz-drenched pieces, like "After the Rain" where keyboardist Håkan Wirenstrand makes like Herbie Hancock with his sparse and dissonant chording. "Forever" is an ambient number meant for dark lounges with a lot of pheromone activity. Its a genuine album bolstered by the groups collective artistry. It proves, once again, that geography has very little to do with authenticity. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 9 Title: Machine Dreams Released: 2009-08-17 Tracks: 11 Duration: 43:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 A New (04:02) 2 Looking Glass (04:55) 3 My Step (03:27) 4 Feather (04:53) 5 Thunder Love (03:54) 6 Never Never (03:37) 7 Runabout (04:22) 8 Swimming (03:38) 9 Blinking Pigs (03:39) 10 Come Home (04:13) 11 Fortune (03:12) |
| Machine Dreams : Allmusic album Review : Lest you believe Little Dragon lack an aesthetic spine, their shift away from low-key left-field hip-hop, plaintive piano ballads, and acoustic jazz -- a combination that helped make their debut a cult classic -- seems more natural after a couple spins. Theres no way around the fact that most of Machine Dreams is icy electro-pop, but it is not as if the truly singular Yukimi Nagano, an enamoring vocalist, has switched to drone mode, forsaking her grounding in R&B.; She has kind of perked up, in fact, with her hooks carrying more lift to suit her bands rubbery rhythms and liquid synthesizer patterns. Just as "Twice" was the standout on Little Dragon, the songs here that resonate most, however -- the opening "A New," "Thunder Love," and the closing "Fortune" -- are this Swedish groups version of (electric) quiet storm, deceptively intense and even sensual. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 9 Title: Blinking Pigs Released: 2010-11-01 Tracks: 5 Duration: 27:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Blinking Pigs (03:41) 2 Runabout (DJ Craze’s Carribean refix) (04:27) 3 Never Never (SBTRKT remix) (06:38) 4 Fortune (iambic remix) (04:13) 5 Feather (Fromwood remix) (08:02) |
 | Album: 4 of 9 Title: Ritual Union Released: 2011-07-25 Tracks: 11 Duration: 43:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Ritual Union (03:30) 2 Little Man (02:41) 3 Brush The Heat (04:12) 4 Shuffle A Dream (02:54) 5 Please Turn (03:32) 6 Crystalfilm (04:49) 7 Precious (03:50) 8 Nightlight (03:25) 9 Summertearz (03:53) 10 When I Go Out (06:01) 11 Seconds (04:31) |
| Ritual Union : Allmusic album Review : Diverse post-Machine Dreams collaborations with Gorillaz, David Sitek/Maximum Balloon, Raphael Saadiq, and SBTRKT made Ritual Union the most anticipated Little Dragon album yet. Perhaps coincidentally, it represents a fusion and refinement of the group’s first two albums. Much of it crosses Little Dragons lithe, alien R&B; with Machine Dreams straightforward, rubbery new wave. Nothing has the plaintive chill of the debut’s otherworldly ballad “Twice,” but some of the snappier songs -- the hushed “Brush the Heat,” the bopping “Nightlight,” and the scampering “Shuffle a Dream” especially -- are tricked out with foreign sonic baubles and accents. This is not to say that Ritual Union is short on new developments. The group puts some twists on its sound, and Yukimi Naganos lyrical thorns, typically concealed by her subtle approach -- no need to ask for her indoor voice -- are sharper than ever. Synths swarm warily throughout the cynical title song, where Nagano confronts her father (or a father): “You ran away so many times/Your kids, your heart, a couple dimes.” “Summertearz” is the most unique of all -- a pinging tribal beat and chant with Nagano weeping, “So lead me on, into your web.” | ||
 | Album: 5 of 9 Title: Best Of Released: 2014-04-21 Tracks: 14 Duration: 54:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sunshine (03:30) 2 Ritual Union (03:31) 3 Test (04:27) 4 Blinking Pigs (03:39) 5 Recommendation (03:52) 6 Fortune (03:15) 7 No Love (04:26) 8 My Step (03:27) 9 Little Man (02:43) 10 Feather (04:53) 11 Scribbled Paper (06:04) 12 Nightlight (03:25) 13 Runabout (04:22) 14 Twice (03:06) |
 | Album: 6 of 9 Title: Amazon Artist Lounge Released: 2014-04-28 Tracks: 3 Duration: 11:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Klapp Klapp (03:14) 2 Paris (03:24) 3 Killing Me (04:29) |
 | Album: 7 of 9 Title: Nabuma Rubberband Released: 2014-05-09 Tracks: 12 Duration: 42:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mirror (03:25) 2 Klapp Klapp (03:37) 3 Pretty Girls (03:43) 4 Underbart (04:05) 5 Cat Rider (04:33) 6 Paris (03:24) 7 Lurad (00:09) 8 Nabuma Rubberband (03:16) 9 Only One (04:07) 10 Killing Me (03:45) 11 Pink Cloud (04:46) 12 Let Go (04:04) |
| Nabuma Rubberband : Allmusic album Review : That carefree and innocent look contradicts the sound of Little Dragons fourth album. It doesnt look like it should begin with an austere, shuddering ballad in which Yukimi Nagano achingly stews prior to resolving, as ice flows through her veins, "Youre gonna make me put my fist through this mirror." Recorded in the groups native Gothenburg and evidently affected by the regions grim winter weather -- as well as Janet Jackson ballads, and maybe a suffocating relationship -- Nabuma Rubberband contains little in the way of bopping pop. The driving lead single "Klapp Klapp," released almost three months prior to the album, isnt representative, though its stormy synthesizer undercurrents hinted at the overall mood. "Paris" is nimble as well but depicts a lonesome post-breakup scene. Nagano confessed to feeling uneasy about making ballads following the popularity of the debut albums "Twice," but theres no sense of apprehension, nor is there any attempt to rewrite that song here. Most brilliant is "Cat Rider," sinuous and spacy -- an alluring takedown that could fit into mainstream R&B; radio playlists. "Pink Cloud," more like a slightly brightened update of Machine Dreams highlight "Fortune," initially does almost as much with even less, then slowly levitates with impeccably arranged strings and mallets -- like they aimed to make an alternate ending to Japans Tin Drum. The writing, playing, and production is predominantly the work of the group on their own, with two collaborators playing small but significant roles. Dave (of De La Soul) co-wrote "Mirror," as well as one of the other darker highlights, "Killing Me," a slowly swaying kiss-off in which Nagano seethes, "Ill take my rocket ship and get the hell outta this/Nothin that Im gon miss." That song, along with the satisfying closer "Let Go," was co-produced by Robin Hannibal (Quadron, Rhye). Subtract those contributions and this would still be the groups most accomplished work. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 9 Title: Season High Released: 2017-04-14 Tracks: 10 Duration: 43:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Celebrate (03:56) 2 High (04:16) 3 The Pop Life (03:37) 4 Sweet (03:31) 5 Butterflies (06:06) 6 Should I (02:58) 7 Don’t Cry (04:14) 8 Strobe Light (03:43) 9 Push (03:06) 10 Gravity (07:38) |
| Season High : Allmusic album Review : Little Dragon reaped their greatest commercial success with fourth album Nabuma Rubberband, a Top 25 Billboard 200 hit nominated for a Grammy. After its release, Little Dragons guest appearances likewise increased in profile from being sought out by ODESZA, Mac Miller, Kaytranada, De La Soul, and Flume. While Season High, the bands follow-up to all that acclaim and activity, adds some new twists and roams from weightless Scandinavian soul ballads to zipping synth pop, the albums is deficient in emotional depth and congeals into a mass of adequate mood music. It doesnt offer much more once the themes -- including romantic fulfillment, solace, and longing, with a little materialistic frivolity, eyelash batting, and cutting loose -- come into sharper focus. The albums best moments evoke past highlights. The potent "Butterflies," for instance, has a lightly frosted delicacy similar to that of "Fortune and "Cat Rider," and those that are just behind it, such as "Sweet" and "Strobe Light," dont have the bite of standouts from the second and third albums. The band still keeps the outside input to a low-profile minimum: barely detectable assistance from Simian Mobile Discos James Ford on "High," "Boom Clap" co-producer Patrik Berger on "Sweet," and a squealing solo from Agge, a guitarist who played on the debut, on "Celebrate." Up to this point, Little Dragons preservative self-containment was refreshing. The safe, routine feel of Season High calls for some risks, whether theyre several returned favors or a whole-session co-producer for album six. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 9 Title: Lover Chanting EP Released: 2018-11-09 Tracks: 4 Duration: 18:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Lover Chanting (05:23) 2 In My House (05:56) 3 Timothy (03:50) 4 Lover Chanting (edit) (03:25) |