A few summers ago I sat around an unairconditioned apartment slightly sticking to leather couches hearing about Unknown Mortal Orchestra for the upteenth time. Yet despite the buzziness of the name – I had never hit play on my own. My flaw was judging this band by it’s cover, murky connotations assumed with the print name alone, and disregarding any recommendation from my trusted sources. Don’t me be. Hear Unknown Mortal Orchestra today, see them tomorrow as they kick off their summer tour in support of their new release, Multi-Love.
The band, whose past two albums have earned them wide recognition from indie, hip-hop, and psych sectors alike – has kept their tried and true formula but added a new layer of reflection and personal vulnerability. Frontman and multi-instrumentalist Ruban Nielson is digging into relationship complications as he did prior on II, on Multi-Love the love triangle is front and center. While on II he explored the woes of being alone, he’s grown into the prickly reality of being together there. Simultaneously while navigating his personal life, Nielson was falling in love with synthesizers as a tool and even made some himself. “It’s more about being someone who makes things happen in concrete ways. Building old synthesizers and bringing them back to life, creating sounds that aren’t quite like anyone else’s,” Nielson says.
The results of his hard work is found on Multi-Love, the album ebs and flows between funky dance choruses on the opening cut to lo-fi fuzz on “Ur Life One Night” to the soulful singalong found in “The World Is Crowded”. Nielson has never been one to stick to one thing and since has created this unmistakable sound that is distinctly his. As Nielson is a chameleon, his records have taken on the same identity. Fit for waking up, slugging through e-mails in the office, driving up the coast, and that party next week – Unknown Mortal Orchestra has found that intersection seamlessly. Don’t be late to the party, tomorrow night the band kicks off their summer tour. Be there.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Tour Dates
Tue. June 2 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall**
Wed. June 3 – Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount
Thu. June 4 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
Fri. June 5 – Detroit, MI @ Pike Room
Sat. June 6 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Mon. June 8 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
Tue. June 9 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
Wed. June 10 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
Fri. June 12 — Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival (4:45pm, The Other Tent)
Sat. June 13 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
Sun. June 14 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Mon. June 15 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
Tue. June 16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
Wed. June 17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
Fri. June 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw