RockFeedback

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

27.06.11

Anonymity is something that is nearly impossible if you’re a musician today. The availability of everything you ever wanted to know about anyone you can possibly think of has put an end to any mystery surrounding most acts, making it almost embarrassing if you don’t possess an encyclopaedic knowledge of an artist by the time their debut album arrives. Somehow, Unknown Mortal Orchestra have managed to slip the net somewhat, with their debut self-titled album released this month, and facts about the band somewhat thin on the ground.

The first internet presence of UMO came in late 2010, when a track called ‘Ffunny Ffriends’ surfaced on a Bandcamp page. As has happened in the past, initial speculation focused around the ‘real’ identity of the mystery artist, deducing from the quality of the work that it couldn’t be from a pleb (remember when people genuinely thought Burial was a Trent Reznor side-project?). Suspicions were confirmed when UMO announced itself as the solo project of Ruban Nielson, New Zealand native and former guitarist with Portland, Oregon-based noise-rock band The Mint Chicks.

After quitting the band, Nielson had every intention to leave the music industry and start living a life as a “more productive member of society”. The early recordings of what would become UMO were done as a hobby, in his basement. As things gathered pace, Nielson put together a band to play live, consisting of himself, Jake Portrait on bass, and Julien Ehrlich on drums, before setting out to support Smith Westerns on their tour.

While it’s a nightmare for anyone looking to write about the band (too early for excuses?), their slow-developing back story has allowed listeners to concentrate on their music, rather than spend frankly too much time looking at where the band grew up and what constitutes their perfect Sunday. While some music definitely benefits from contextual background, UMO have made an album that can stand on its own, without having to know whether it was made in a studio or a log cabin, or whether Nielson had broken up with his girlfriend prior to recording.

The influences on the album seem to straddle most of the past 50 years, with recognisable elements of everything from hip-hop to garage rock to soul to be found throughout. Psychedelic rock plays a prominent part in most of the songs, starting with opener ‘Ffunny Ffriends’, and continuing on into ‘Thought Ballune’, which sounds like Paul McCartney revisiting his Beatles heyday after listening to his favourite Wu Tang album. The sound of the record doesn’t have too many contemporary reference points, but the likes of lead track ‘How Can U Love Me?’ bear some resemblance to a scuzzed-up Cee-Lo Green song, and result in a sound that could easily be filed next to the lo-fi psychadelic punk of Ariel Pink‘s Haunted Graffiti.

The band are heading over to the UK next month to showcase their album, taking in not one, but two shows for Rockfeedback (one in support of The Wave Pictures)., before the band head out on a lengthy stint in support of Yuck and Toro Y Moi on their US tours.

Live Dates

Mon 05/057/11 The Lexington London – ROCKFEEDBACK GIG [TICKETS / DETAILS]

Thu 07/07/11 Nouveau Casino Paris

Mon 09/07/11 Elgar Room, Royal Albert Hall (all ages) London [TICKETS / DETAILS]

Mon 10/07/11 Lounge on the Farm Fest (all ages) Canterbury

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