The fourth studio album from Little Dragon sees them in adventurous mood, with the opening three tracks easily swooping across various flavours of the synthy/electro/downtempo spectrum. They’re straight in with the high drama emo-pop of stark opener “Mirror,” which contrasts heavily with the raw synth bass, Depeche-Motown beat and big jubilant hooky chorus of “Klapp Klapp,” and a genuinely beautiful melody and the most charming of strings grace the flowing digi-soul-pop of “Pretty Girls.” 

In places it feels slightly fuller perhaps than some of their previous work, as though, finally, Little Dragon have allowed one or two musical parts to overlap with each other rather than perfectly tessellate. But there’s plenty of their familiar efficient, almost clinical production style in the highly polished percussion and carefully placed synth parts, and always at the heart of their cleverly constructed songs is that aloof, alluring voice. Yukimi Nagano’s vocals soar and beguile as ever, her clear, yearning delivering of the title track’s spiralling melody just one of many examples of her not-inconsiderable vocal talents. Nabuma Rubberband’s electronic soul, synth-pop and avant-tronica is pretty, smart and bewitching. 

– Harold Heath