Little Dragon review and setlist, Koko, Camden: ‘Prog on the dancefloor’

Since its refurb, relaunch and rise from the ashes, Camden’s Koko has become a London mecca for electronic music, and last week a packed venue welcomed Swedish outfit Little Dragon.

The band have been around since the ‘90s but broke through in 2011 with third album Ritual Union.

Their back catalogue contains genuine bangers such as Hold On and Ritual Union, both of which were dispatched early here.

Elsewhere they occupy a hinterland between the blips and beats and a funk odyssey. It’s like no one has told the dancefloor they’re at a prog rock gig.

Within a few songs we’ve had a bass solo from Fredrik Wallin and a keyboard adventure with the bearded and barefoot Håkan Wirenstrand - all of which is just fine with a blissed out and welcoming crowd.

There are changes of pace throughout the set, especially during a gorgeous, soulful Where You Belong and Shuffle A Dream which could easily have been produced by the none-more-glam-pop Girls Aloud.

It is vocalist Yukimi Nagano who leads the dance, emerging in a green veil and prowling the stage.

Over the years Nagano has lent her voice to the likes of Gorillaz, Sbtrkt (Wildfire features here), Badbadnotgood, Flume, De La Soul, and Kaytranada, and its easy to see why such a range of collaborators are attracted to her.

An engaging presence the, Koko crowd was sold on her and Little Dragon.

Little Dragon was presented by Koko’s partner, the crypto app Luno.

Little Dragon setlist, Koko, Camden, March 23/2023

• Another lover
• Hold on
• Rush
• Ritual Union
• Shuffle A Dream
• Test
• Where You Belong
• Forever
• Crystalfilm
• My step
• Klapp Klapp
• Wildfire
• Twice
• Lover Chanting