Little Dragon are showing real staying power as a band who started well but who are now just getting better and better. Yukimi Nagano’s voice is undoubtedly the star, but as it develops, so too do the soundscapes into which she is cast. On ‘Nabuma Rubberband’ she benefits from some beautifully crafted songs, imaginatively orchestrated and exquisitely sung, with songs like ‘Cat Rider’ channelling a smoky atmosphere not a million miles from Massive Attack, while the powerful closing song ‘Let Go’ channels a deeply felt R&B style. The Little Dragon sound is unique and instantly recognisable, which is obviously a good thing – with less than usual beats, oblique lyrics and a singer who is almost asexual in her delivery at times. ‘Paris’ is a wonderful song, while the atmosphere crackles in ‘Mirror’ send a shiver down the spine, and then ‘Only One’ breaks cover into a powerfully skewed house track. This is the sound of a band moving from strength to strength – and with any luck ‘Nabuma Rubberband’ will give Little Dragon the exposure and acclaim they truly deserve.
5 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
