7/10

Ever since they first emerged, Swedish electro-pop outfit Little Dragon have stood as one of the more adventurous and innovative names on the scene today. Regularly combining their electronic aesthetic with a more jazz and soul-inspired direction throughout their tenure, they have created a catalogue bubbling with fresh and immersive delights that truly stand out amongst their contemporaries. And after a few years of pushing the boundaries of their sound even further, they return with their seventh studio album 'Slugs Of Love', a record that looks to continue their inventive desire.

From the very start, 'Slugs Of Love' feels like another distinctively Little Dragon release. With lead vocalist Yukimi Nagano's beautifully alluring voice leading the charge throughout much of this new collection, the band find themselves more at ease with their chosen atmosphere this time around. And while the record's previously shared title-track stands as one of their most captivating entries on this new release, much of 'Slugs Of Love' is less about demanding attention, and instead keeps itself a largely sombre and ethereal offering, calmly moving through its tracklist without too much bother.

While it may lack that confident grasp that lures you in from start to finish, 'Slugs Of Love' still makes for a wonderfully bright and enjoyable listen. Keeping the production and general tone modest within its sound gives the album a passionate texture that is hard to pull yourself away from when it really gets going.