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Psychedelic rock can get a bad name for being too freaky, while lacking the musical substance to justify itself. Unknown Mortal Orchestra is psychedelic, but it has character and complexity beyond that label. It’s poppy and accessible while still distinctive and unhesitant, and the production quality of the band’s eponymous debut album exceeds the expectations of a typical small-scale first effort, with intricacy, balance, and an identifiable perspective.
Album opener “Ffunny Ffriends” is a catchy start. Its limited lyrics are gentle and understandable enough to vaguely enjoy, but with accompanying guitar, all glazed over with distortion, it’s easy to tune out your analytical brain and just get drawn into the motion of the song. The mood is laid back and spaced out, with a steady beat and repetitive nature, but the song’s structure is artfully textured. Beginning with “Ffunny Ffriends” and running through the album’s length, frontman Ruban Nielson’s bluesy vocals hold songs together as guitar parts weave in and out of their melodies.
Second track “Bicycle” features the pleasingly analog squeaks of Nielson’s guitar, accompanied by a jangling, rather retro rhythm section. The songs dreamy flying bicycle lyrics call to mind the final scenes of E.T., harkening, perhaps, to the imaginative and simple rosy glow of childhood. Nielson sings, “What a difference between what I saw and what was before my eyes,” which could either read traditionally trippy, or just genuine and rueful.
Relaxed “Jello and Juggernauts” is a satisfying lull after a few up-tempo songs, with pleasing discord, and clean guitar riffs presented in relative isolation. Nielson’s vocal style turns a little more peaceful and breathy, and the band shows some scope. “How Can U Luv Me” is the most direct cut on the album, followed by noisy, brief romp “Nerve Damage!”, and pretty, longing “Little Blu House”, packed with harmonies and spacious echoes. “Strangers Are Strange” offers one more easy psych track, then last track “Boy Witch” closes with intriguing experimentation.
The album maintains the right mix of meaning and psychedelic smoke and mirrors so as to be entrancing to listeners – teetering on the precipice of playfulness and introspection, clarity and chaos. Lyrics range from simplistic and blissed out, as in “Ffunny Ffriends”, to that trademark of psychedelia, uncomplicated but mind-bending ruminations, like on “Thought Ballune”: “Is it darkness or the light/Sometimes a wrong is a right.” Nonsensical imagery pervades, but more heartfelt, reflective undertones flow through Nielson’s raspy delivery.
While its sound carries a decidedly vintage flavor, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s debut is wholly of the present – a well-crafted and thoughtful representation of a very current youthful malaise.
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