Unknown Mortal Orchestra — V — Album Review
Indie | Lo-Fi | Rock
Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Music
2023 has been one of those weird years where the warmer days are coming incredibly slow. In other words, it has felt like a very long winter. And while I cannot wait long enough for those days to finally arrive, at least we still recently received a brand new album from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, to simulate that feeling.
For those who are wondering, that feeling of summer was kind of preemptive, as I was one of (I imagine) many to stumble across the track known as “Hunnybee” off the New-Zealand indie bands fourth studio album Sex & Food. That track in particular really encapsulated that warmth and vibrance of a great summer tune. That being said, I was quite excited to get into their following album.
Aptly named V, this record serves as Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s fifth studio album. But on top of that, it is also the very first that I have taken the time to properly listen to with a critical mindset.
I did managed to listen to a handful of teaser tracks for this album as well, those being “Layla” and “Nadja”. These two teaser tracks are actually great examples of how the album in its entirely ultimately became. On one hand, you had a track like “Layla”; a truly indulgent tune, perfectly released at a time that the excitement of moving into the big city was still fresh. And on top of that, it clearly brought that gorgeous summer vibe.
On the other hand, you have a track like “Nadja”, which while still a good tune in its own right, did admittedly glare with that typical indie feel which, as a Brightonian, I’m arguably a little too accustomed to at this point.
And thus, this album does serve as a bit of a mixed bag. Nevertheless, the highlights of the record really do bring out the best in the band. Tracks like “Weekend Run” and “The Beach” continued to bring forward all of the elements that made a track like “Hunnybee” so enjoyable, and arguably even built upon it with a more engaging energy.
Speaking of said energy, I would say that Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new album does feel stylistically akin to the recent works from Tame Impala. I guess it was just a leeway for me to throw this out there, but I reckon fans of The Slow Rush, should definitely like this project too.
I will also say though, that V does also have a little bit of an overabundance when it comes to instrumental tracks. And while even these tracks had their enjoyable moments, the feeling that I was being taken out of the moment was still there.
I would say that V is one of those album that picks things up for better in the middle section, which is where I found most of my favourite tracks to lie.
In short, while V is still a mixed bag, it is still a very enjoyable one of that. And when I look back on the moments of this album that I am more fond of, I am still faithful that V will leave a positive impact on everyone’s musical summer.
Favourite Tracks: Layla | Weekend Run | The Beach
Least Favourite Track: I Killed Captain Cook
Jagjaguwar
