Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Rà-àkõ-st” (Lindstrøm Cover)
It shouldn’t be expected that Unknown Mortal Orchestra would be dolling out new tunes so quickly after the release of their excellent sophomore LP II and a lengthy tour with Foxygen and Wampire in support of it, but here we are. A cover may not necessarily count as new work, but when a rock band takes on an electronic song, like Lindstrøm’s “Rà-àkõ-st”,” it requires a more finesse than a standard repurposing. Here, UMO take the steely disco of the original and smooth it out in gurgling psych jam. Warm where Lindstrøm’s is reserved, crunchy where his is bright. We already have evidence that the Norwegian producer and the Portland rock trio are excellent foils for one another from when he turned their halcyon “Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)” into a cut that inspires night moves. Check out “Rà-àkõ-st” below.
II is out now via Jagjaguwar.