7/10

Since their earliest beginnings, Sweden's Little Dragon have never been one to sit still on a direction or aesthetic for too long. Just when we feel that we can somehow define the sound or style they are going for, they throw us a curveball of musical experimentation that excites and keeps us on our toes in equal measure. But since the release of their highly-praised 2017 LP 'Season High', it feels that the band are looking to be more than just another genre-bending outfit as their sixth studio release 'New Me, Same Us' sees them take on a more long-form approach to songwriting.

What usually stands out most amongst the Little Dragon catalogue is their bold and impressive musical vision for themselves, but it feels that this time around they are no longer looking to be defined by their production and instead focus themselves on the lyrical content and emotion layered throughout each new offering. This means that while it may not be filled with the same overarching power and dancefloor-friendly cuts throughout, it focuses far more on the soft yet soaring vocals of frontwoman Yukimi Nagano, giving it a far broader and more dynamic appeal than we were expecting.

The title of the record obviously gives this away, but 'New Me, Same Us' certainly feels like the beginning of something new for Little Dragon. While the musical dexterity still makes itself known throughout their latest collection, there is this underlying feeling of progression within their sound, showing us that they are more than ready to try new ideas and concepts, which keeps themselves in a fresh guise in the process.