Ruban Nielson and his Unknown Mortal Orchestra keep things entertaining on the logically titled »V«, their fifth album, which will be released by Jagjaguwar on March 17, 2023. After increasingly contrasting his retro-psych with poppy 80s disco and writing a concept album about polyamory, the band’s first double album now follows.

Between California and Hawaii

The 14 new songs were written between California and Hawaii, inspired by the sun-bleached yacht rock of the West Coast and radio pop of the seventies and eighties as well as Hawaiian hapa haole music. Nielson, who has Hawaiian roots himself, also succeeds in putting the typical UMO stamp on these different genres on the singles already released, while at the same time giving an idea of the album’s range. »That Life« is the catchy uptempo number, »I Killed Captain Cook« the sad acoustic ballad and »Layla« a quirky hit with a reggae beat and anthemic chorus. The Frosted Blue Vinyl Edition, which is available exclusively in Europe from HHV Records, adds the finishing touch to the already great anticipation.