Ritual Union by Swedish electronic-soul-R&B collective Little Dragon occupied its own little place in the world of music last year, sounding fresh, vibrant and distinct from much else released during 2011. On Friday they play a show at the Kentish Town Forum. Friday also sees Field Music promote fourth album Plumb at a show at Kings College and Mexican duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela continue their ascent to popularity with a show at Brixton Academy. Phenomenal Handclap Band also return to the live scene on Friday, with a show at Village Underground ahead of the release of second album Form & Control.
Elsewhere, Tindersticks play four intimate nights at the Soho Theatre from Wednesday to Saturday in support of fine ninth album The Something Rain. Meanwhile, over at Café OTO on Wednesday (former?) Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon plays a show with Bill Nace under the name of Body/Head. Expect much in the way of challenging, experimental-noisescapes.
Earlier in the week Loney Dear appears at Bush Hall playing from last year’s beautiful Hall Music album on Monday, while emerging American duo Gauntlet Hair play from their excellent Animal Collective-esque self-titled debut album at the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston on Tuesday.
The NME Awards shows continue across London this week – Metronomy and Azealia Banks being the pick of the headline tour that hits Brixton on Saturday. Kurt Vile and Real Estate play a show at KOKO on Tuesday and Danish songwriter Nanna Øland Fabricius appears at Heaven as Oh Land on Thursday.
Finally, in the realm of electronic music veteran techno-maestro Richie Hawtin appears at Village Underground on Thursday whilst Tycho (San Francisco based musician Scott Hansen) treats those at Cargo on Saturday to the ambient soundscapes of debut album Dive.
Also taking place this week:
Thomas Truax – Power Lunches – 21st February
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 22nd February
Oberhofer – Lexington – 22nd February
The Deep Dark Woods & The Arlenes – Windmill – 22nd February
First Aid Kit – Kings College – 23rd February
The Jezabels & Dry The River – 23rd February
Pulled Apart By Horses – Electric Ballroom – 23rd February
Baxter Dury – XOYO – 24th February
S.C.U.M – Bush Hall – 24th February
Marina & The Diamonds – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 26th February
Imogen Heap – Roundhouse – 26th February
Just announced:
The Futureheads – Union Chapel – 4th April
The Cribs – Troxy – 8th May
Saint Etienne – Palladium - 28th May
Norah Jones - Royal Festival Hall - 1st & 2nd June
A$AP Rocky - Electric Ballroom - 5th June
Hugh Laurie – Hammersmith Apollo – 2nd July
Grant Lee Buffalo – Kentish Town Forum – 14th August
Dry The River – Shepherd’s Bush Empire – 1st November
