ACL Fest 2015 Saturday Record Review
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Multi-Love (Jagjaguwar)
Reviewed by Greg Beets, Fri., Oct. 2, 2015
Blowing up his profile among NPR programmers with mod falsetto soul on 2013's "So Good at Being in Trouble," New Zealander-turned-Oregonian Ruban Nielson doubles down on this vein to distraction. Top-loaded with mildly engaging songs drawn out past the point of intrigue, Multi-Love sorely misses the psychedelic fancy that informed its predecessors. "Can't Keep Checking My Phone" cloyingly aims for the cheap seats with a push-button bhangra and walking disco bass. Bright spot "Necessary Evil" refreshes a hypnotic Bill Withers via interplay between Nielson's guitar and his father's trumpet. (5:30pm, Austin Ventures stage)