Always the bridesmaid but perhaps finally the bride.
Little Dragon
Although almost anything that can get you ahead in today’s overcrowded and frequently under-talented music world is to be encouraged, fame by association can be a double-edged sword. Gothenburg’s Little Dragon can certainly forge the right acquaintances and have long been tipped for the top, but until recently it seemed that might be the full extent of their role – a cool vocalist for that tricky collaboration, a suitably hip name to drop, yet somehow always the bridesmaid and never the bride.
Over the course of two albums for UK indie and discerning dance label Peacefrog, Little Dragon have displayed much promise and plenty of clues as to why everyone from TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek to the Roots’ ?uestlove and Outkast’s Big Boi rave about them, but they have never quite managed to come up with the killer blow.
Supporting fellow collaborators and fans Gorillaz on their New Zealand date late last year, they showed De La Soul up for the tired relics they are, and also gave a glimpse of what they are truly capable of, with some fiercely hypnotic grooves that capitalised on their unusual, but highly effective, live drums, bass, synthesizer and vocal make-up.
New album Ritual Union continues that trajectory, delivering several standout songs that match previous peaks like Twice, with a lot less of the slightly wearying worthiness that clouded their earlier efforts.
Although it gives a fairly bleak view of the institution of marriage, and it’s not surprising to discover that all four members of the band are the product of divorced households, the title track is a magnificent opener built around a snaking synthesizer line and ruthlessly economical drums. Yukimi Nagano’s vocals are practically gifted a musical open goal, and it’s one she takes effortlessly, without any of the fuss or clutter that might have been present on their earlier records.
The band have never had trouble conjuring up captivating backings, but Nagano’s vocal lines and studied pop leanings have often failed to fully convince, but that is less evident on Ritual Union.
With hints of everything from Laurie Anderson to Björk and Goldfrapp, Little Dragon move through 11 concise songs before arriving at the sublime finale, Seconds, which breathes similar air to To Binge, the band’s stunning waltzy collaboration with Gorillaz on Plastic Beach.
Worth sticking with for the few plays it takes to familiarise oneself with its unusual architecture, Ritual Union is the sound of a band beginning to find their mojo.
RITUAL UNION, Little Dragon (Peacefrog/Yellow Eye).