Album Review: Unknown Mortal Orchestra - II

23 January 2013 | 1:59 pm | Cate Summers

While II may lack a few of the catchy hooks we saw on Unkown Mortal Orchestra’s first offering, it’s still a very interesting album that’s consistent in their old-school sound.

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra, the brainchild of ex-Mint Chicks member Ruban Neilson, have released a follow-up to their 2011 debut. II is a more conservative voyage into the psychedelic world than the previous release, the album reflecting a more reserved and measured approach to the genre and the thematic exploration of the idea of loneliness.

Opener, From the Sun, introduces us quickly to both the musical and thematic inspirations that are entwined throughout the tracks on II. The stark chorus of “Isolation can put a gun in your hand” is balanced out with a much lighter composition of delicate guitar and fuzzy vocals. Similarly, single, Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark), weighs out shadier lyrics (“I wish that I could swim and sleep like a shark does/I'd fall to the bottom and I'd hide till the end of time”) with a catchy folk-funk melody and Neilson's warm vocals.

Neilson has a great ability to bring in different elements from a variety of genres, whether they be soul, hip hop or rock, and infuse them with this vintage, lo-fi, psychedelic sound that the band became recognised for in 2011. One at a Time shows off some great 1970s wah-wah-inspired chord progressions before moving seamlessly into The Opposite Of Afternoon, a more reserved, Beatles-inspired song. The energetic apex of the album, Faded In The Morning, wouldn't have been out of place on the band's debut, and it's great to hear something a little more upbeat and catchy thrown in on the album, too.

While II may lack a few of the catchy hooks we saw on Unkown Mortal Orchestra's first offering, it's still a very interesting album that's consistent in their old-school sound.

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