It’s been a while since we last heard from the pure yet
enigmatic four-piece Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Having now released their third
and most decorated album ‘Multi-Love’, the band have expanded beyond the 60s
spaced-out fuzzy rock sound of their previous work; this time, adding doses of
funk and pop to their classic layered guitar and ethereal vocals. Many have
prematurely labelled UMO as a band that can only exist in the studio, and that
they are masters of production trickery, creating sounds that are almost
impossible to reconstruct live.
Boo to these
people.
Their recent tour of the UK has seen the band mature
exponentially. By showing off their new material as well as peppering the set
with euphoric album cuts, the band oozes confidence and brings all the “studio
sorcery” and funk than any one person could handle. What we got at the sold out
Brudenell Social Club was non-stop clean, unsullied fun – proof that
psychedelic and gone-disco bands don’t have to take themselves too seriously.
Opener ‘Like Acid Rain’ is bolstered by lyrical reverb, with
punters crying back the infectious la la
la la as if it were the theme to their favourite Pink Floyd inspired
children’s TV show. Lead Ruban Nielson shows that he has mastered the art of
pulling in listeners with his twisting grooves and delicate fret work, before
hitting them hard with a colossal hook. The newly installed PA at the venue
perfectly balances UMO’s sound of booming synths, cymbal crunches, and
deliberately lithe guitars. Dripping with innocent arrogance and gaining
momentum, the band run through the first half of their set quickly and
effectively, giving us euphoric singles like ‘Ur Life One Night’ as well as old
ones which rarely see the light of day on stage in 2015 such as ‘Thought Ballune’.
The pace is slowed only by the new soulful number ‘The World
Is Crowded’ and fan favourite ‘So Good At Being In Trouble’ – the cautious groove of the latter
complimenting the harmonic chorus, proving that they are as danceable and
heart-warming as ever. An audience-led hum of the closing tune disperses into a
silence as the audience admires the quartet in all their technical ability
during ‘Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)’.
However, the greatest power is through Nielson and his
ability to keep the audience transfixed on his movements and fragility – we see
him toe tapping whilst playing guitar, nonchalantly leaning up against the back
wall under the famous Brudenell paint, sitting front of stage with legs
dangling over the edge, as well as venturing out into the audience during
‘Stage Or Screen’. It’s an effortless charm that doesn’t instantly demand
attention, but yet you still can’t keep your eyes off him as he loses himself
in his own world of psychedelia. After wandering through the crowd with a cheesy
grin (note: I’ve heard he went and got a pint during the London show), he
finishes off the guitar-lacking segment of the set with an abrupt, unforeseen
Jackson-esque swivel and drop. It’s unpredictable, shamelessly silly, and
exudes the band’s intrinsic vulnerability – but in this lies the band’s
greatest muscle and proof of honest integrity (something which is lost in
today’s business).
The only thing predictable about the whole show is the
responses to singles, ‘Multi-Love’ and ‘Ffunny Ffriends’. Both leaving punters
itching to dance, jump, and clap their hands, stomp their feet, or do whatever
they felt was necessary at the time. The title track of the new album, and set
closer, is funkier than any UMO song has been before, pasting together a
boisterous and unavoidable chorus.
At first, their re-appearance on stage is disappointing, as
the deep synths of ‘Necessary Evil’ unable to follow suit of the previous
closer. Despite the start of the encore lacking the classic UMO spark, it is
swiftly redeemed of a shortcoming with latest single ‘Can’t Keep Checking My
Phone’ – this being as close to a new-wave and pop song as you could ever
apprehend from this group, with capturing vocals and a disco undertones.
To prove their increasing live identity, the set is littered
with solos. Each member of the quartet is given multiple opportunities to
emulate any individual rock-star fantasy - from Ruban Nielson on guitar, to
Jake Portrait on bass, to Quincy McCrary on keys, and Riley Geare on drums.
However, this never overflows into cockiness or to seem immodest, every member
remains within their bubble of self-awareness and simply have a good laugh with
each other.
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| Instagram: follow @richmaver |
It is now completely understandable as to why Unknown Mortal
Orchestra have progressed from a fad to a force. This is a band that are
humbled by a sell-out, and a band who leave the stage as delighted as they were
when taking it. A band that play the songs you know, as well as the ones you
don’t – because they can.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra played:
Like Acid Rain
From The Sun
How Can You Luv Me
Ur Life One Night
Thought Ballune
The World Is Crowded (great)
So Good At Being In Trouble
Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)
Stage Or Screen
Ffunny Ffriends
Multi-Love
- - - - - -
Necessary Evil
Can’t Keep Checking My Phone
Written by Richard Maver
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