Sey Something’s Top 25 Swedish Albums of 2009
1. Little Dragon – Machine Dreams (Peacefrog Records)
Little Dragon’s “Machine Dreams” is my favorite album of the year for more than one reason alone. One of the best live shows, best album cover art, and Yukimi Nagano’s soulful voice is something fresh in a constantly repetitive style in music. You always hear about the best new thing, but how many times is it filled with soul, jazz elements. They toured the world, released their second album “Machine Dreams”. The first release off of Machine Dreams was a Double A-Side single “Fortune / Blinking Pigs”. To the very catchy mesmerizing “Feather” with an addictive crash with every start of a verse and chorus. You are airborne/You’ve got silver rays/Will it ever float will it ever soar along, those lyrics take you on a journey passing right along our way into “Never Never”. A almost pulsing of the keyboard and faster paced drum beat Yukimi talks about how, I could never have what you have/Something got me so tied/frozen inside/heart was pounding cause I knew that/I could never have what you have. As the album progresses so does the music. “Blinking Pigs” fast paced drums and the reverb on vocals is a haunting melody. Where their s/t album was more soulful and had a complex weaving of jazz, this album borrows heavily from a R&B Electro Pop sound. “Come Home” is a perfect example of that. “Fortune” was the first song that had me hooked. It starts with subtle synth in the background that slowly rises until its unnoticeable. Nagano’s intoxicating vocals intertwine throughout the song gripping more and more until the slowly fading breakdown kicks in. The title Machine Dreams couldn’t describe the album clearer. You almost feel as if you are in a dream state from beginning to end. A+
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