Little Dragon - Ritual Union (2011)
Genres: Electronic, Soul, Synth-pop
"Sweden's Little Dragon are a band blessed with a distinct and immediately alluring style. Their rhythms are dry and metronomic; their synthesizers either provide a distant ambiance or seem to glow like neon lights that flicker in time with the beat. Frontwoman Yukimi Nagano's phrasing touches on conventions of modern-- particularly British-- iterations of R&B, but errs on the side of aloof understatement. They are essentially an R&B band, but the major elements of their style are skewed enough that while the music seems vaguely familiar, it doesn't sound quite like anyone else." - Pitchfork
I've been addicted to Little Dragon since they released their self-titled debut album in 2007. Yukimi Nagano's soulful voice atop the Electronic production provided by the band instantly took ahold of me, and I've been hooked ever since. Little Dragon has displayed an ample amount of growth between their debut album and their third release Ritual Union. The group began moving toward a more synth sound with their Sophomore release Machine Dreams, and it seems as if Ritual Union picks up where their second album left off. Little Dragon traveled further into a synthesizing terrain with this release, and I'm enjoying every bit of it.
The Swedish band has been converting people into Little Dragon bots since the release of their debut album. The more material they release, the larger their fan base grows. However, Ritual Union didn't get as much positive feedback as I expected. Despite the unresponsive feedback the band received from most critics, for me, Ritual Union serves as a breath of fresh air. Most individuals expected Little Dragon to stick with the same formula they've used for past albums, but that isn't the case with Ritual Union. Not only is the group more experimental within this release, but the album as a whole is more put-together than their previous material. If I had to describe the album with one word, I would describe it as "consistent." Each component of the album compliments the next; from the album cover, to the lyrics, to the way each track perfectly merges into the next. I'd be lying if I said this was my favorite release by the group, but I cannot deny it being an enjoyable album added to their discography. There's a decent amount of gems lying around on the album in plain sight. The self-titled track "Ritual Union," "Please Turn," "Crystalfilm," "Nightlight," and "Seconds" are all personal favorites from the album.
After reading countless reviews and comments from "fans", I've come to the conclusion that not many people know much about Little Dragon beyond their second release Machine Dreams, and their guest appearance on Gorillaz's album Plastic Beach. If you're reading this review, and this description sounds like you, please research the group beyond these two releases before listening to Ritual Union! I find that if you're not aware of where something is from, you'll most likely lack the understanding of where that something is trying to go. So with that being said, take the time out to listen to all of their albums collectively in chronological order; I guarantee you'll walk away with a better musical experience.
If you've made it this far, it means either two things: this review has caught your attention, or the album has caught your attention. Either way, you've made it to my closing paragraph. This is when I inform you of where to purchase the album, and any other last statements left to be stated. So, if you're interested in purchasing Ritual Union (a good purchase indeed), you can purchase the album from three separate sources. First, if you're looking for a copy on vinyl, Turntable Lab has copies in stock (click here). Second, Amazon has copies available in CD format (click here). Third, if you're more of a new-age type of listener in search of the digital album, iTunes has you covered (click here). Also, for anyone in hopes of seeing Little Dragon perform live, head over to their website (click here) to find out information on locations and ticket purchases. Some shows are already sold out, so don't slack and miss out on your chance to see a great performance by a great band. Lastly, I've included a sample of the album below. The song I've decided to share is one of my favorite tracks from the album, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you for reading!
Little Dragon - Crystalfilm
4 comments:
maybe i'm biased, but i love this album... little dragon can do no wrong as far as i'm concerned, and as you said, it's all about progression. with each album i've witnessed artistic growth and i appreciate that. LD don't box themselves in by sticking to what works. they take chances with their music and that, essentially— aside from the familiarity the group exudes—is what i think people are drawn to. i dig this effort. can't wait to see them live for the 3rd time!
LD can't do much wrong in my eyes either; you know I'm a huge fan. But I still prefer their previous releases over this one. I feel like their past albums have more to offer vocally and production wise. Some (not all) songs felt a bit empty on RU... whereas tracks in the past were layered well and full of vocals. I even caught myself skipping one or two tracks. I really enjoyed the album though. I also appreciate them taking things to another terrain instead of sticking to what works like you explained. There's nothing better than being creatively free. Also, I know they're going to rip their live performances! We need to get our tickets ASAP.
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