"Unknown Mortal Orchestra II" is one slippery record. Sliding back and forth between the musical influence of the 60's, 90's Hip Hop, Soul music, and post punk energy. The melodies have a sugary sweet feel but are contrasted with a melancholic mood. The guitar tones stick to a classic fuzz tone but are matched by in the pocket drum and bass lines recalling the sampled beats of J Dilla or RZA. While the influences and references are widespread and perhaps counter intuitive, it makes for a very original and very fresh take on Psychedelic songwriting.
The opening track "From the Sun" is a perfect example of the manner in which Ruban Nielson straddles the past and present. The song's melody could have been lifted straight from John Lennon, but that is not to say that the song is straight mimicry. If anything, the familiarity of the sound lures listeners in with a false sense of security, just to have the song taken in the opposite direction. The intro is one of the many examples of Nielson's excellent guitar picking and knack for chord structure. "From the Sun" starts sparse and light before switching to a tripped out pop melody. His playing is simple but often unexpected, switching between agile picking patterns, chugging post- punk pop, and fuzzed out psychedelic wailing. While "Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)" finds Nielson picking his way around the fretboard in a downward spiral.
While maintaining a cohesive style, the album switches the flow constantly. Swimming between the slow jam soul of "So Good at Being in Trouble", the offbeat groove of "Opposite of Afternoon", and the thrash of "No Need for a Leader". Nielson and the gang weave their way effortlessly from one idea to the next. The album has a great pacing, a diverse range of ideas, and a complex melding of style and substance.
