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Jul 21, 2011Though consistently ground-breaking and lyrically challenging, Ritual Union never feels like hard work.
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Jul 25, 2011With Ritual Union, the band forges their own path and does not take the easy way out.
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Aug 11, 2011So Ritual Union may not be a perfect album, but it is charming, intriguing and rewarding enough to ensure that you'll overlook any flaws and keep coming back to give it another spin. And that's something very special indeed.
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Entertainment WeeklyJul 27, 2011It's ambient R&B for restless nights. [29 Jul 2011, p.72]
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Dec 7, 2011The group puts some twists on its sound, and Yukimi Nagano's lyrical thorns, typically concealed by her subtle approach -- are sharper than ever.
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Dec 6, 2011If diversity is key, this album certainly has it in abundant strength and as more is revealed, the range of the band takes over.
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MojoNov 22, 2011Ritual Union feels like the point at which Little Dragon's lyrical stride finally gets in step with their musical ambition. [Aug. 2011, p. 93]
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UncutJul 28, 2011Ritual Union makes it three alums without a remotely duff--or dull--moment. [Aug 2011, p.93]
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Jul 26, 2011The danger is that they might spread themselves too thin, but on this evidence they've kept their best ideas close to their chests.
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Jul 26, 2011Electronica bands run the risk of entering an ethereal, psychedelic realm and never leaving, but Little Dragon always maintains its tie to the tangible world through Nagano's voice.
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Jul 26, 2011Their third set hits a sweet spot between the futuristic soul of their debut and the synth pop of 2009's Machine Dreams.
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Jul 25, 2011Ritual Union is the rich vindication of Little Dragon's slow burning upturn.
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Jul 21, 2011Paired with Nagano's warm, engrossing voice, Ritual Union's songs become much more than just capable synth-pop fare.
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Jul 21, 2011She's surely destined to become one of the voices of the year, while her accomplices' subtle confections of minimal electro throbs and stripped-back beats has an alluring simplicity that's like a refreshing, palate-cleansing sorbet.
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Jul 19, 2011Little Dragon clearly weren't broken, so they haven't tried to fix themselves; they have instead filed their art into an incisive point, and with Ritual Union stand at the top of their trade. This is far more than instantly-forgotten ad fodder.
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Jul 14, 2011As the album withdraws from the dancefloor to the lonelier darkness of Summertearz and Seconds, Nagano lures you to follow.
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Jul 13, 2011Its dreamy interludes, leading into those electroclash tangents provide a welcome bit of inventiveness that help to remind that, while relatable at their best, Little Dragon are hardly conventional.
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Jul 13, 2011This band's gradual edging over the precipice of mainstream acceptance has been richly deserved; now, everyone should hear this dragon roar.
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Jul 25, 2011Though captivating siren Yukimi Nagano needs to turn it loose…watch out once she does.
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Jul 13, 2011After the brilliant five-track sweep that opens Ritual Union, which peaks with the entrancing "Please Turn," Little Dragon take an unfortunate turn toward light experimentation and hard-nosed repetition, emphasizing pocket-sized click-clack rhythms and downplaying
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Jul 28, 2011On this lovely little patchwork pop record, there's enough going on to make you actually quite scared of what they'd come up with if they had a budget.
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Jul 13, 2011Little Dragon's third full-length deepens the group's down-tempo mix of icy techno and smoldering R&B.
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Jul 26, 2011Ritual Union is almost there, content to split the difference between genre pieces and potential pop hits.
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Jul 26, 2011Little Dragon have clearly mastered their style on this album; hopefully next time around they will deliver more songs worthy of their sound.
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Jul 13, 2011Ritual Union is an album that has about as many standouts as skip-overs. The standouts are songs that won't get old, but the skip-overs aren't the type to grow on you, more the type that a significant other might use in the morning to fuck with your fragile early stages of consciousness.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 26 out of 28
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Mixed: 2 out of 28
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Negative: 0 out of 28
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Aug 26, 2020
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Jan 23, 2012
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Aug 11, 2011