Little Dragon

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For years now, the world of music has been too global and interconnected for one to truly be surprised at an outfit such as Little Dragon, but it's no less a wonder that a sound as American as soul and R&B can infuse the music this pervasively of a group of high school buddies from Sweden. Little Dragon is a dynamic self-titled debut that is yet another credible and enchanting Euro-approximation of soul and rhythm & blues. Vocalist Yukimi Nagano displays all the subtle inflections and conspicuous acrobatics that have identified the R&B genre for years, but specifically the more recent paradigms of the Chaka Kahns and MJBs, noted easily on the album's highlight Constant Surprises. Meanwhile, Wink is a sexy, synth-heavy club banger that might conjure some of the more poppish acts (Rihanna). But the album -- and group -- don't stop there, thankfully. They give you everything from quaint piano ballads (Twice) to jazz-drenched pieces, like After the Rain where keyboardist Hakan Wirenstrand makes like Herbie Hancock with his sparse and dissonant chording. Forever is an ambient number meant for dark lounges with a lot of pheromone activity. It's a genuine album bolstered by the group's collective artistry. It proves, once again, that geography has very little to do with authenticity. [The CD was also released with a bonus track.] ~ Vincent Thomas, All Music Guide