For the past couple of years Ruban Nielson's Unknown Mortal Orchestra (sometimes a duo, but now, we think, a trio) have been nicely simmering away on the back burner with the music world keeping a watchful eye over what they would do next. The Kiwi/US band released their self-titled debut album to mild round of applause from the critics last year, and now they've unveiled the next step which might just mean that the world at large could get to know them a little better. With a second full-length in the pipeline for early next year, the band have announced they're joining the impressive roster of independent label Jagjaguar. To help further cement their place as one of the first-division teams of alternative rock, they've also announced a mammoth tour in the run up to the release, including a jaunt down the east coast of America with alt-rock titans Grizzly Bear.
That exposure is sure to do their cause no harm, and they'll be splitting for a US tour of their own straight after, as well as gigs in Mexico, Australia and New Zealand (see their website for details). One suspects much new material will be aired, but if you're unable to attend then the first fruits of the album are already available for your listening pleasure. New single 'Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)' is a slightly lo-fi (mid-fi?) piece of jangly psychedelia could have floated its way straight in from the late 60s were it not for the fact that there's something ever so slightly too modern about the production that we can't quite put our finger on. If you can imagine MGMT covering The Byrds then you're in the right ballpark. This is twangy, dreamy, concise, simple and catchy; all things that great pop music should be. The 7" will only be available at gigs (and probably ebay) but you can stream it here. It's time to start looking forward to that new album.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra's website
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I've found this band brilliant from day 1, can't wait for their new album, wish it came earlier. The first album blew my head clean off, metaphorically speaking. Defs a gem for the music of today.
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