{"product_id":"unknown-mortal-orchestra-ii-blue-record-ep-vinyl-lp","title":"Unknown Mortal Orchestra  -  II + Blue Record EP  -  Vinyl LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnknown Mortal Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e's breakthrough second album is getting an exciting expanded edition with the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eBlue EP\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand two b-sides for a double-LP collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnknown Mortal Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecame to life in basements and bedrooms, the musical vision of Portlander-via-New Zealand Ruban Nielson that fused guitar-god riffs, choppy percussion, soul, and funk.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eII\u003c\/em\u003e, the sophomore album from\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUMO\u003c\/strong\u003e, emerged in an era rampant with hedonism and isolationism and became the blueprint for everything Nielson has become renowned for. It was, and is, the solidification of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnknown Mortal Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eas an endlessly intriguing, brave, and addictive band.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTen years on, it's back with an expanded edition. Written during a punishing, debauched touring schedule during which Nielson feared for both his sanity and health,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eII\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eillustrates the emotional turmoil of life on the road, painting surrealist, cartoonish portraits of loneliness, love, and despair. These conflicting themes are evident immediately; on the album's sleeve is an unnerving image of Janet Farrar, the famous British witch, Wiccan, author, and teacher of witchcraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chilling refrain of opener \"\u003cem\u003eInto The Sun\u003c\/em\u003e\" sees Nielson deliver the line \"Isolation can put a gun in your hand,\" softly, his words starkly intelligible above a warm, slow-burning melody that quickly brands itself onto your brain. Nielson's playful imagery (\"I'm so lonely I've gotta eat my popcorn all alone\") mirrors the melody, before a solo that borders on psychotropic ends\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eII\u003c\/em\u003e's introduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUMO\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis unafraid to dig deeper than the rest, their intoxicating, opiate groove bringing rock'n'roll's exaggerated myths to life. And as it unfolds,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eII\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003edoes find Nielson reenergized. \"\u003cem\u003eOne At A Time\u003c\/em\u003e\" and \"\u003cem\u003eFaded In The Morning\u003c\/em\u003e\" boast dizzying choruses and instrumentals; these crusty hunks could have been excavated from a lost 1960s treasure trove. \"\u003cem\u003eMonki\u003c\/em\u003e\" unravels over seven minutes like the yarn from a stoner's cardigan with an eye-frying pattern.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eDawn\u003c\/em\u003e\" is a minute of disconcerting noise that stands out between the nooks and crannies of the choruses, guitar solos, groove-heavy bass, and drums that were recorded live by newly-recruited drummer Greg Rogove and Kody Nielson in a move away from the electronic percussion employed on album one.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eII\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecloses with \"\u003cem\u003eSecret Xtians\u003c\/em\u003e,\" a tender observational puzzle that fizzes to a satisfied end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn celebration of the album's 10th anniversary Nielson's complete collection from the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eII\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eera is finally available in one compilation, and features the five acoustic tracks from the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eBlue EP\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eas well as two additional B-sides.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUnknown Mortal Orchestra\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ewas once Nielson's closeted concern. With an album that uses his singular musical imagination and extraordinary talent to parade his emotions with unyielding honesty, it is now a fully realized band operating at the peak of its powers ten years on.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Boiler Room Records - 27 High St","offers":[{"title":"2LP Silver Vinyl","offer_id":56680865464698,"sku":"BRR-09020","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/6517\/2868\/files\/76ea4c1c893e751df56772be23471294.png?v=1773400231","url":"https:\/\/www.boilerroomrecords.co.uk\/products\/unknown-mortal-orchestra-ii-blue-record-ep-vinyl-lp","provider":"Boiler Room Records - 27 High St","version":"1.0","type":"link"}