Unknown Mortal Orchestra | Artist

Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a New Zealand psychedelic rock band formed 2010 in Auckland by Ruban Nielson (vocals, guitar, songwriter) and Jake Portrait (bass). The pair relocated from NZ to Portland, Oregon, after the breakup of their former band The Mint Chicks. Nielson filled out the lineup with the addition of Quincy McCrary (keyboard) and Kody Nielson (drums). The band's debut self-titled album was released in 2011 on Fat Possum Records; four subsequent studio albums have been released on Jagjaguwar: II (2013), Multi-Love (2015), Sex & Food (2018) and, the most recent, IC-01 Hanoi (2018). The band has received wide critical praise for their dreamy neo-psych sound. Clash Music gave the album II 9/10, saying "from opener 'From The Sun', which recalls George Harrison-psychedelia, to the tender Family Stone shuffle of the closing of 'Secret Xtians', 'II' displays both a glowing warmth in its production and a deft use of space that illuminate Nielson's superbly crafted compositions." Paste magazine called the album "a modern, beat-heavy take on '60s psych, with plenty of hooks and fuzz to get you hooked and feeling fuzzy", and NME praised Ruban's ability to turn his songs into "works of warm, fuzzy beauty". Kody Nielson is also in the side-project Opossom together with fellow Kiwi Bic Runga.

Artist Website: unknownmortalorchestra.com

Featured Albums: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Related Artists: The Mint Chicks

Video Clips: Live at KEXP, Best Kept Secret, From the Sun