05 May 2011 - 0 Comments

After a year filled with rumour, breakbeats and intrigue, Unknown Mortal Orchestra – the new project of The Mint Chicks’ Ruban Nielson – are set to release their debut album on June 21st on Seeing Records via Frequency Media Group.

UMO first appeared around a year ago, more a song than a set, more an idea than an identity. They dazzled all who heard them with sound drawing on the freedom of ‘60s psychedelia and swampy ‘70s funk, with multi-tracked, heavily treated vocals recalling the raw emotion of R&B from any era.

The songs filtered around via email then blogs, but there were no images, no bios, no lists of band members with prior projects prominent. There wasn’t even a live show - which just served to focus attention on the music. And while New Zealanders who heard it instantly suspected a Mint Chicks connection, overseas the slate remained blank: “Information essentially doesn’t exist, aside from it being a solo project hailing from Portland,” said I Guess I’m Floating, summing up the absence.

In time it became more solid, and conventional in a sense. A 7” was released on a UK label named The Sounds of Sweet Nothing, which sold out in a heartbeat. Tour dates were announced, and while the crowds were small, all who bore witness lapped up the now-three piece’s sound.

On June 21st this thing will be blown wide open. Nielson, along with teen wunderkind Julian on Drums and production savant Jake on bass, will give Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s self-titled debut to the world, via Fat Possum, in the US and Seeing Records in New Zealand.

Seeing Records is the brain child of Julian Carswell, ex tour manager of CSS and the Mint Chicks, and UMO will be its debut release. The label is part of Frequency Media Group, and will retain a boutique quality.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s self-titled album will be available from all good record stores and online from June 21. Please see http://unknownmortalorchestra.com/ for more information.

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