Unknow Mortal Orchestra

UMO is a band that occupies special space in my play list always. Not because they are my favorite band (though I am extremely fond of them), but because they have a discog where there is not really a bad record among them. I’ve really got a soft spot in my heart for UMO. “II” is the one that I find myself reaching for most often, it is one of those rare perfect albums, never fails to entertain me no matter my mood nor how many times I have heard it before, it’s always perfect. How many albums can you say that about?
The true, I can’t remember much how I got to know these fellas, bit I remember that the artist I’ve come to know as Unknown Mortal Orchestra came to me through an anonymous track on bandcamp, and sparse rumblings on some sites about be a Ruban Nielson´s side project , who had already had success in his previous musical life as a member of experimental punk-pop The Mint Chicks. I remeber well is that I was not sure what it was hearing, but the sound blissful distorted lo-fi with distinctive stabs of psychedelic guitar.really hit a chord in my brain and I could not stop hear their songs on my way until now.
I’m going to assume that if you don’t already own some their albums you probably know little to nothing about simply the most greatest psych rock band to ever come raging out of New Zealand, so allow me to give you some history.
The musical vision of Portlander-via-New Zealand Ruban Nielson started as an anonymous home-recording project that fused psychedelia, soul, choppy percussion and funk. UMO came to life in basements and bedrooms after Nielson moved from his native New Zealand to Portland, Oregon with his family. Following the recruitment of bassist Jacob Portrait, drummer Julien Ehrlich , UMO started tour the road. Pulling Pink Floyd, the Family Stone, The Beatles and the Soft Machine through his warped rock’n’roll filter; Nielson created a collection of expressive, off-kilter psychedelia.
Next May will see the release of their third album “Multi-Love”, and, dude, it’s good. So, through his work I hope you all get to leave the mundane for a spell, and hear some great fucking songs in all this process. Thanks Ruban, you rule.

SINGLES

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– I’ll Come Back 4 U
Label: adult swim
Series:Adult Swim Singles Program 2012
Format:File, MP3, Single
Country:US
Released:18 Jun 2012
Part 1 of the adult swim singles program 2012.
Tracklist
1 I’ll Come Back 4 U 2:59

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark) / Waves Of Confidence
Label:Jagjaguwar
Format:Vinyl, 7″
Country:US
Released:13 Nov 2012
Phonographic Copyright – Jagjaguwar
Copyright – Jagjaguwar
Tracklist
A Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)
B Waves Of Confidence

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– No Need for a Leader

Label:Jagjaguwar
Format:promo issue/silver (colored) cd/jewel case with rear insert
Country:US
Released:2013

Tracklist

01. No Need for a Leader (Russell Elevado Remix) (04:04)
02. No Need for a Leader (05:47)
03. Swing Lo Magellan (Dirty Projectors Cover) (02:48)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– SB-01
Label:Not On Label (Unknown Mortal Orchestra Self-released) ‎
Format: File
Country:US
Released:25 Dec 2013
Released as a free download through UMO’s Bandcamp page http://unknown-mortal-orchestra.bandcamp.com/ with the note “MERRY XMAS”
Tracklist
1 SB-01 (22:23)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– SB-02
Label:Not On Label (Unknown Mortal Orchestra Self-released) ‎
Format: File
Country:US
Released:25 Dec 2014
Christmas 2014. By Ruban Nielson. Riley Geare on drums in the first section. Kody Nielson features on piano at 11:00. Like SB-01 one year earlier, this was available as a free download for Christmas day PST only 2014.
Tracklist
1 SB-02 (17:29)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– Can’t Keep Checking My Phone
Label:Jagjaguwar
Format:Vinyl, 7″
Country:US
Released:2015
Phonographic Copyright – Jagjaguwar
Copyright – Jagjaguwar
Tracklist
A Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)
B Waves Of Confidence

01. Can’t Keep Checking My Phone (04:16)

EPs

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– Unknown Mortal Orchestra EP
Label:The Sounds Of Sweet Nothing ‎
Format:Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, 33 ⅓ RPM, EP, Limited Edition
Country:UK
Released:13 Dec 2010

Limited to 300 copies.

Side A plays at 45 rpm and side B plays at 33 rpm.

Tracklist
1 How Can You Luv Me? 3:28
2 Nerve Damage! 2:13
3 Thought Ballune 4:13
4 Ffunny Ffrends 4:16

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Daytrotter Session

Big Orange Studios, Austin, TX

SESSION DATE:Sep 7, 2011

QUALITY:320k mp3
Tracks
1. Welcome to Daytrotter
2. Jello and Juggernauts
3. Thought Ballune
4. Strangers Are Strange
5. Boy Witch
6. Little Blu House

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– Blue Record
Label:Jagjaguwar ‎
Format:Vinyl, 12″, Single Sided, EP, Blue Splatter
Country:US
Released:29 Oct 2013
Acoustic Versions of 3 songs from II and two covers
Tracklist
1 Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)
2 Faded In The Morning
3 So Good At Being In Trouble
4 Swing Lo Magellan (Written-By – Dirty Projectors)
5 Puttin It Down (Written-By – Beck)

ALBUMS

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Label:Fat Possum Records ‎
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album
Country:US
Released:21 Aug 2011

Tracklist
1 FFunny FFrends
2 Bicycle
3 Thought Ballune
4 Jello And Juggernauts
5 How Can You Luv Me
6 Nerve Damage!
7 Little Blu House
8 Strangers Are Strange
9 Boy Witch

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– II
Label:Jagjaguwar ‎
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album
Country:US
Released:05 Feb 2013
Phonographic Copyright – Jagjaguwar
Copyright – Jagjaguwar
Mastered At – Joe Lambert Mastering
Mastered By – Joe Lambert
Performer – Ruban Nielson
Photography – Stewart Farrar
Written-By, Recorded By – Ruban Nielson
Comes with MP3 download code printed on small paper sheet, and paper inner-sleeve with lyrics on one side and a skull artwork on the other side.
Tracklist
1 From The Sun
2 Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)
3 So Good At Being In Trouble
4 One At A Time
5 The Opposite Of Afternoon
6 No Need For A Leader
7 Monki
8 Dawn
9 Faded In The Morning
10 Secret Xtians

Unknown Mortal Orchestra ‎– Multi-Love
Label:Jagjaguwar ‎
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album
Country:US
Released: 25 May 2015

Tracklist

01. Multi-Love (04:11)
02. Like Acid Rain (02:03)
03. Ur Life One Night (04:28)
04. Can’t Keep Checking My Phone (04:16)
05. Extreme Wealth and Casual Cruelty (06:05)
06. The World Is Crowded (04:20)
07. Stage or Screen (03:26)
08. Necessary Evil (05:18)
09. Puzzles (07:03)