It’s been a stellar year for Little Dragon. Following collaborations with Gorillaz and David Sitek – Big Boi and ?uestlove also consider themselves fans – the torch paper of wider acceptance has truly been lit. Their trajectory now looks comfortably assured. And from the opening chimes of the title track, it’s not difficult to pin down why. Straightaway Yukimi Nagano’s husky-yet-girlish vocal weaves amidst the shape-shifting backdrops of minimal funk, dreamy pop and electro soul, and you’re mesmerised. It’s dark and downbeat, smoky and soulful, and if you can get past the Duffy-esque intro, ‘Ritual Union’ is the rich vindication of Little Dragon’s slow burning upturn.
8/10
Words by Reef Younis