Little Dragon - New Me, Same Us (LP) - Translucent Blue Vinyl

Little Dragon’s sixth album, New Me, Same Us, arrived in March 2020 through Ninja Tune, and it still feels like a quiet reset that plays to the band’s greatest strengths. The Gothenburg four piece of Yukimi Nagano, Håkan Wirenstrand, Fredrik Wallin and Erik Bodin recorded and self produced it in their own studio, and you can hear that tight, lived in chemistry in every corner. Nothing feels fussed over. The grooves are supple, the synths glow rather than glare, and Nagano’s voice floats with that familiar mix of cool and ache that made so many of us fall for them back in the Machine Dreams and Ritual Union days.

“Hold On” set the tone as the lead single, a taut little pep talk riding a springy bass line and Bodin’s crisp drums. It’s the kind of song that finds a sweet spot between dance floor and headphones, which is their specialty. Then comes “Are You Feeling Sad?” with Kali Uchis sliding in like a second sunbeam. The collaboration is a neat reminder of how easily Little Dragon bridge worlds, just as they did with Gorillaz and SBTRKT earlier in the decade, but it still sounds unmistakably theirs. “Another Lover” is the heartbreaker here, all late night glow and soft regret. Nagano sings it with a shrug that turns into a sting, and the band keep the arrangement spare so the melody lingers after the last note.

Part of the charm is the way they use space. Wirenstrand’s keys rarely go for flashy runs, preferring small, well chosen chords that shift the light. Wallin’s bass moves like quicksilver. Even when the tempo pushes, there’s a patience to the playing that makes the songs breathe. It’s especially clear on “Rush,” which clicks together like a pocket watch, each part neat and purposeful. The record avoids the maximalism that crept into bits of Season High and circles back to the svelte, percussive feel that suits them best.

The title reads like a mission statement. There’s growth here, but it’s inward. No big stylistic pivot, no lab coats in the studio, just four long time collaborators trusting the instincts they’ve sharpened over years on the road and in the room. Reviews from places like The Guardian, NME and Pitchfork picked up on that cohesion, noting how the band’s self contained approach gives the album a steadiness that’s easy to live with. It’s a front to back listen, not a singles dump, which feels rare and welcome.

Spin New Me, Same Us on vinyl and those soft edges come into focus. The kick drums land with extra warmth, and the synth pads bloom around Nagano’s vocal in a way that digital often pinches. If you’ve been eyeing Little Dragon vinyl, this one earns its shelf space. It also pairs neatly with earlier Little Dragon albums on vinyl if you like following their arc from jittery electro pop to this more meditative, R&B tinted palette. I’ve seen clean copies pop up at my local Melbourne record store, and it’s an easy add if you’re browsing for vinyl records Australia wide or planning to buy Little Dragon records online.

What keeps me coming back is the band’s touch with mood. They can suggest melancholy without sinking into it, and they can make uplift feel like a shoulder squeeze rather than a sermon. Nagano is central to that balance. She doesn’t belt. She glides, she tilts, she lets consonants blur in ways that make even a simple refrain feel private. On this record, her phrasing is a study in restraint, and the band make a lot out of small shifts around her. A hi hat opens a hair wider, a synth chord gets a dusty filter, the bass hangs back for half a bar longer. Those choices don’t shout, but they’re the reason these songs stick.

If you’re new, start with “Another Lover,” then let “Hold On” and “Rush” pull you through. If you’ve been around since the Gothenburg club days, this will feel like catching up with old friends who have grown up just enough. And if you’re crate digging, New Me, Same Us vinyl is one of those records that glows from the turntable at night. No gimmicks, no trend chasing. Just a band trusting their own pulse and delivering a set of songs that reward a quiet room and an open window.