Via NPR –

I love watching a band evolve. On its third studio album, Little Dragon does just that. The Swedish quartet, fronted by singer Yukimi Negano, first hooked me years ago with its gorgeous mix of soul, R&B, rock, funk, synth-pop and electronica. But when I heard “Nightlight,” the lead single off Ritual Union, immediately knew something different was on the horizon.

The new record brings out a sharper side of the band. The sounds are more aggressive, the vocals more dynamic, and the mood more consistent as one track flows into the next. However, the band hasn’t lost the dreamy pop sensibility that has always made its songs so addictive.

The dance floor is my first love as a music fan, and Ritual Union has plenty to offer in that department. Uptempo rhythms and electronic beats are everywhere on this album, making for an interesting contrast with Negano’s vocals, which sometimes dip into a quirky and even folky vibe. The tension resolves on the closing cut, “Seconds,” a gentle lullaby with a hint of Kraftwerk that marries the band’s disparate influences perfectly.

Listen: Little Dragon’s ‘Ritual Union’ in its Entirety