Preview: Little Dragon @ Emo's [Tonight]

A night out on town can involve a wide range of activities based on your agenda, company, and mood. On certain occasions, you leave your home with the sole purpose of watching that one artist that means the world to you. Some forays into the night are meant to be wild ragers with no regard for humanity or your health. Then there are those evenings where you want to find the right balance between catching an intriguing band and carrying on regular conversations, while also finding time for an unruly moment or two. Tonight, Emo’s brings in Little Dragons to cater to just that disposition. The Swedish band’s polished compositions provide an agreeable backdrop for casual banter but are fascinating enough to warrant much discussion with your friends. And lest you harbor an occasional inkling to shake your booty, Little Dragon’s intermittent electro-thump accommodates for those instances as well.

Little Dragon has two full-lengths under its belt, including 2009’s Machine Dreams. Synth glaciers, hypnotic beats, and downtempo atmospheres are all part and parcel of the band's experiments in electronica. And be it soothing lounge ambiance or pulsating dance floor anthems, Yukimi Nagano’s versatile voice adapts and impeccably embellishes the layered soundscapes, which drone and throb, and chirp and chime, sometimes all at once. Little Dragon had been flying somewhat under the radar in America but Grey’s Anatomy’s fifth season changed all that, introducing the band (and their song “Twice”) to mainstream audiences here. Quite a few of the band members are already established as relevant musicians in Europe. Nagano, especially, has a stellar résumé, having previously worked with numerous, much lauded Swedish acts including Koop, Swell Season, and José González, and drummer Erik Bodin is currently in González’s band. Little Dragon should feel right at home in Austin this frigid evening but head down to Emo’s and offer them a warm welcome regardless; enjoy Car (Stereo) Wars’ exhilarating mash-ups to boot.

[Little Dragon MySpace]
[Car Stereo (Wars) MySpace]