Emerging from rampant hedonism and isolation is II, the new album from Unknown Mortal Orchestra. The
musical vision of Portlander-via-New Zealand Ruban Nielson started as an anonymous home-recording project
that fused psychedelia, soul, choppy percussion and funk. UMO came to life in basements and bedrooms after
Nielson moved from his native New Zealand to Portland, Oregon with his family. Following the recruitment of
bassist Jacob Portrait, new drummer Greg Rogove and a deal with Jagjaguwar, UMO toured the US with Grizzly
Bear and Liars.
II builds on the break-beat, junk-shop charm the 32-year-old multi-instrumentalist and songwriter came to be
renowned for following his self-titled 2011 debut, and signals the solidification of Unknown Mortal Orchestraās
position as an endlessly intriguing, brave psychedelic band. UMO is unafraid to dig deeper than the rest to lock
into their intoxicating, opiate groove and bring rockānārollās exaggerated myths to life.
Written during a punishing, debauched touring schedule during which Nielson feared for both his sanity and
health, II illustrates the emotional turmoil of life on the road, painting surrealist, cartoonish portraits of
loneliness, love and despair.
These conflicting themes are evident immediately; on the albumās sleeve is an unnerving image of Janet Farrar,
the famous British witch, Wiccan, author and teacher of witchcraft. The chilling refrain of opener āInto The Sunā
sees Nielson deliver the line āIsolation can put a gun in your hand,ā softly, his words starkly intelligible above a
warm, slow-burning melody that quickly brands itself onto your brain. His playful imagery (āIām so lonely Iāve
gotta eat my popcorn all aloneā) mirrors the melody, before a solo that borders on psychotropic ends IIās
introduction. As it unfolds, II does find Nielson reenergized. āOne At A Timeā and āFaded In The Morningā boast
dizzying choruses and instrumentals; these crusty hunks could have been excavated from a lost 1960s treasure
trove. āMonkiā unravels over seven minutes like the yarn from a stonerās cardigan with an eye-frying pattern.
āDawnā is a minute of disconcerting noise that stands out between the nooks and crannies of the choruses, guitar
solos, groove-heavy bass and drums that were recorded live by newly-recruited drummer Greg Rogove and Kody
Nielson in a move away from the electronic percussion employed on album one. II closes with āSecret Xtians,ā a
tender observational puzzle that fizzes to a satisfied end.
Pulling Pink Floyd, the Family Stone, The Beatles and the Soft Machine through his warped rockānāroll filter;
Nielson created a collection of expressive, psychedelia. Unknown Mortal Orchestra was once Nielsonās closeted
concern. With an album that uses his singular musical imagination and extraordinary talent to parade his
emotions with unyielding honesty, it is now a fully realized band operating at the peak of its powers.
From The Sun
Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)
So Good At Being In Trouble
One At A Time
The Opposite of Afternoon
No Need For a Leader
Monki
Dawn
Faded in the Morning
Secret Xtians
musical vision of Portlander-via-New Zealand Ruban Nielson started as an anonymous home-recording project
that fused psychedelia, soul, choppy percussion and funk. UMO came to life in basements and bedrooms after
Nielson moved from his native New Zealand to Portland, Oregon with his family. Following the recruitment of
bassist Jacob Portrait, new drummer Greg Rogove and a deal with Jagjaguwar, UMO toured the US with Grizzly
Bear and Liars.
II builds on the break-beat, junk-shop charm the 32-year-old multi-instrumentalist and songwriter came to be
renowned for following his self-titled 2011 debut, and signals the solidification of Unknown Mortal Orchestraās
position as an endlessly intriguing, brave psychedelic band. UMO is unafraid to dig deeper than the rest to lock
into their intoxicating, opiate groove and bring rockānārollās exaggerated myths to life.
Written during a punishing, debauched touring schedule during which Nielson feared for both his sanity and
health, II illustrates the emotional turmoil of life on the road, painting surrealist, cartoonish portraits of
loneliness, love and despair.
These conflicting themes are evident immediately; on the albumās sleeve is an unnerving image of Janet Farrar,
the famous British witch, Wiccan, author and teacher of witchcraft. The chilling refrain of opener āInto The Sunā
sees Nielson deliver the line āIsolation can put a gun in your hand,ā softly, his words starkly intelligible above a
warm, slow-burning melody that quickly brands itself onto your brain. His playful imagery (āIām so lonely Iāve
gotta eat my popcorn all aloneā) mirrors the melody, before a solo that borders on psychotropic ends IIās
introduction. As it unfolds, II does find Nielson reenergized. āOne At A Timeā and āFaded In The Morningā boast
dizzying choruses and instrumentals; these crusty hunks could have been excavated from a lost 1960s treasure
trove. āMonkiā unravels over seven minutes like the yarn from a stonerās cardigan with an eye-frying pattern.
āDawnā is a minute of disconcerting noise that stands out between the nooks and crannies of the choruses, guitar
solos, groove-heavy bass and drums that were recorded live by newly-recruited drummer Greg Rogove and Kody
Nielson in a move away from the electronic percussion employed on album one. II closes with āSecret Xtians,ā a
tender observational puzzle that fizzes to a satisfied end.
Pulling Pink Floyd, the Family Stone, The Beatles and the Soft Machine through his warped rockānāroll filter;
Nielson created a collection of expressive, psychedelia. Unknown Mortal Orchestra was once Nielsonās closeted
concern. With an album that uses his singular musical imagination and extraordinary talent to parade his
emotions with unyielding honesty, it is now a fully realized band operating at the peak of its powers.
From The Sun
Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)
So Good At Being In Trouble
One At A Time
The Opposite of Afternoon
No Need For a Leader
Monki
Dawn
Faded in the Morning
Secret Xtians