Album Review: Unknown Mortal Orchestra – II
Band features organic approach to garage-rock conventions
Kim Stemshorn
Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a three-piece band by way of New Zealand and the United States. Most place associations with the band are given to the lead-singer Ruban Nielson’s New Zealand roots. Nielson moved to Portland, Oregon and shortly after formed Unknown Mortal Orchestra with bassist Jake Portrait and drummer Riley Geare.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, like many low-fi bands, had modest beginnings with just a Bandcamp profile. After much support from blogs and internet fame, the band was signed to Fat Possum Records. They now have found home with Jagjaguar, labelmates to diverse acts such as Okkervil River and Bon Iver.
In listening to the opening track, I knew that I would love the album. It was a guided listen, in that a co-worker had casually tossed on the band’s album. Without knowing who the artist was, the opening tune “From the Sun,” had me captivated enough to purchase the album later on that evening. The song, like many others on the album, has an effortless cool sound that is similar to acts like Lou Reed and the Kinks.
The album’s first single titled “So Good at Being in Trouble” is the perfect blend of soul with airy garage-rock vocals, sounding like it was picked off of the Black Keys’ album Brothers. The tune “Opposite of Afternoon” captures most of the reasons why I love the Kinks. In that respect, it’s astounding to consider how many years the lazy-rock sound has carried. The album’s edgier tunes “One at a Time” and “No Need for a Leader” reflect a more psychedelic sound that Tame Impala has come to champion.
I’m growing a little tired of both writing and reading about bands who reference a sixties garage rock sound. I suppose what this boils down to here is that the sound is back, although, I’m not certain as to whether it ever left. Unknown Mortal Orchestra, unlike many other new garage rock bands, has a significantly more organic and pretty sound to their music – one that I think would translate extremely well live.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s II is playful and light as it is complex, but never complicated, making for a delightful, effortless listen.
PULL: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, unlike many other new garage rock bands, has a significantly more organic and pretty sound to their music.
TAGS: Unknown Metal Orchestra, II, album, review, Ruban Nielson, Jake Portrait, Riley Geare, Okkervil River, Bon Iver, Black Keys, Tame Impala