LITTLE DRAGON KICK OFF BRIEF TOUR INCLUDING SUPPORT FOR Q-TIP @ SUMMERSTAGE / NEW ALBUM ON THE HORIZON
"Brilliant debut album of minimalistic, parallel-universe soul music... Clever, sexy and addictive" 4/5 Mojo
Little Dragon have completed their spectacular second album, a pulsating electro pop epic that Prince would be proud of (only fronted by a beautiful Swedish lady with a sultry voice). "Machine Dreams" is a bold and surprising side/two step onwards from their self titled debut, released two years ago to great acclaim especially among industry folk. "Machine Dreams", with its nagging hooks and gloriously infectious tunes, is set for a UK release at the moment and pending a US release at the end of the year. In the meantime, the band kicks off their tour today with a debut in Chicago, a few dates in the Northeast, and a handpicked opening slot for Q-Tip at SummerStage this week.
Having toured relentlessly since their last record, Little Dragon found themselves achieving quite an aggressive following in the US. After sessions on KCRW's popular 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' show, their album became the most played on the station after Radiohead. No mean feat for the little dragons from Sweden, especially with the lack of a US record label to back them up. The track 'Twice' also received airplay on Grey's Anatomy and eventually the band were brought to the attention of David Sitek who became an instant fan (as did notorious basement dweller DJ Shadow) and asked them to support TV On The Radio on their US tour in May of 2009.
Recorded in their home city of Gothenburg, "Machine Dreams" is a gigantic leap on from previous material but still maintains the distinct Little Dragon charm. Be it Yukimi's warmly inviting vocals, Erik's dextrous drumming, the vast array of synths and bleeps created by Hakan or Frederik's bubbling bass lines, together they create a utopia of their own. The move towards a more electronic sound was a conscious one, as Yukimi explains; "The title "Machine Dreams" seems obvious. These days, humans seem more and more like machines, and as technology evolves, machines feel more human and it becomes fuzzy and beautiful and science fiction-ish We feel dependent on our machines to create and live, and their sounds reflect us".
Album opener 'A New' breaks us in gently with a single whirring note on the synthesizer that gradually morphs into a slow, thumping bassline. Yukimi's vocals flow alongside Hakan's assortment of sound effects interspersed with militaristic drums breaks. A magical opener that sets the scene and seems to sink into itself, taking us with it, until the pace is swiftly ratcheted skywards with 'Looking Glass', the massive snare, crisp driving beat and experimental synths revealing the band's current penchant for the 80's. This influence continues apace into stand out track 'My Step'. Utilizing a solid drumbeat that nestles next to jagged and playful synthlines, the track breaks down into motorik propulsion with a scuzzy techno bassline that Yukimi works with ease. The album carries a similar hypnotic theme throughout and closes with the stunning track 'Fortune', which has already caught the attention of none other than DJ Shadow. With a smattering of drums and bass and the magic of Yukimi's voice and Hakan's electronic dynamics floating on top, it's the perfect track to end this fascinating journey through Little Dragon's brave new world.
With disparate influences from Depeche Mode to Prince, LCD Soundsystem to James Holden, Dancehall to R&B, Jazz and Soul, Little Dragon take their place among artists who straddle many genres, yet somehow create their own and in doing so create "sounds that make time stop" (Yukimi). Futuristic yet somehow retro, "Machine Dreams", sees Little Dragon achieve something timeless; that elusive pop classic.
LITTLE DRAGON ON TOUR:
Jul 15 2009 Chicago, IL @ Kinetic Playground
Jul 16 2009 Toronto, ON @ The Drake
Jul 17 2009 New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
Jul 18 2009 New York, NY @ SummerStage w/ Q-Tip
Jul 19 2009 Washington, DC @ Liv Nightclub
Jul 21 2009 Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire
http://www.myspace.com/yourlittledragon
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