12.05.14

It’s unlikely anyone has ever been puzzled by Little Dragon’s success. While the Gothenburg band’s 2007 debut album (essentially a collection of demos released by a label without their full consent) was something of a false start, for 2009‘s Machine Dreams Yukimi Nagano absorbed 90s RnB influences into her smoky, honey-coloured voice while the band channelled the spirit of Tom Tom Club’s Genius of Love with flashing-neon synth hooks. Seriously addictive stuff.

Nabuma Rubberband follows 2011‘s Ritual Union – the break-through album packed with sultry, moonlit synth-pop anthems that we’ve all heard a thousand times – and on first listen, it’s incredibly pleasing on the ears. But Little Dragon seem to have decided it’s time for their ‘mature’ album, and while it’s a pleasure to hear Nagano ride the tranquil, phased-out synths of tracks like Cat Rider and Pink Cloud, you’re going to have to dig deeper this time around to uncover the melodic earworms. Overall, Nabuma Rubberband provides a gorgeous soundscape to bury your head in, but for a band who’ve reached such stellar heights by balancing innovative production and instant gratification, releasing an album full of slow-burners is a risky move.

Davy Reed