On The Verge
Published: 2013/03/08
by Ron Hart
Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Portland, Ore.
Psychedelic R&B
www.unknownmortalorchestra.com
“Her name is Janet Farrar. She’s the high priestess of a witches’ coven in Ireland,” explains Ruban Nielson, sole proprietor of the Portland, Ore.-by-way-of-New Zealand trip-pop outfit Unknown Mortal Orchestra about the sexy/spooky Smiths-esque cover art for his latest LP II. “Janet holding the sword is a powerful image and one that suits the album well.” As these 10 songs find Nielson intent on slicing through his competition on the college radio charts by ramping up the production value of his bedroom-born, his self-described “psychedelic R&B” owes as much to Frank Zappa as it does to Frank Ocean. But while he has expanded his band to include drummer Greg Rogove and bassist Jacob Portrait, II was once again primarily sired by the artist himself, who seems to enjoy the process too much to switch things up just yet. “Recording by myself is a lot of fun,” he muses. “I just sit around until an idea comes and build the recording at my own speed. I do some funny things. Sometimes, I’ll play a simple bass line over a looped drum sample for three hours, just over and over trying to burn it into my head.”
Relix A/V
Beth Hart "Baddest Blues"
Beth Hart shares the opening track from her latest album, Bang Bang Boom Boom, live at Relix.
Jamie Lidell "A Little Bit More"
Jamie Lidell sets up in the Relix boiler room and delivers a tune from his 2005 album Multiply
King Lincoln "Coffee"
Duane Trucks is happy to announce his new project, King Lincoln. Watch them perform “Coffee” live and acoustic at Relix’s Online-Video Coordinator’s loft in Williamsburg.
Crystal Bowersox "Dead Weight"
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Goodnight, Texas "The Railroad"
Goodnight, Texas share a song from their latest studio album, A Long Life of Living, live at Relix.
Warren Haynes "Railroad Boy"
Warren Haynes performs a solo, acoustic version of “Railroad Boy” and explains how he adapted the traditional Celtic song for Gov’t Mule, backstage at the Hangout Music Festival.
Alpine "Hands"
Australia’s Alpine recently made their NYC debut at the Relix office with this song from their new album A is for Alpine.
Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger "The Pequod"
In honor of Umphrey’s McGee’s return to Summer Camp this weekend, we present the group’s Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger performing this version of “The Pequod” from UM’s Anchor Drops.
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