Recorded at Phu Sa studio in Hanoi, Vietnam, IC-01 Hanoi is the 5th studio album from New Zealand's Unknown Mortal Orchestra. The band's second project in 2018 following the well received Sex & Food, this concise 7-tracker, which clocks in at 28:10, is UMO's first instrumental effort, and it showcases the group experimenting on the "outer edges" of its influences in jazz, krautrock, fusion, avant-garde and psych. While visiting the Southeast Asian country, Ruban Nielson, his long-time collaborator Jacob Portrait, as well as his brother Kody Nielson recorded live sessions w/ local musician Min Ngyuen (on Sao Truc, Dan Mo, and Vietnamese percussion), and the Nielson brothers' father Chris also joined in, playing the flugelhorn, saxophone, and keyboards. The recordings resulted in IC-01 Hanoi, and it's a heady listen: "amplifying and stretching out on lead guitar, with a blown-out and wandering fuzz tone that slinks throughout the sessions." As much as a nod to avant-garde composers as it is to jazz musicians like Miles Davis, the LP is full of fun textures to explore, ambient & moody but w/ a relaxed feel. Check out "Hanoi 6," "Hanoi 4," "Hanoi 3" and "Hanoi 1."

• black vinyl pressing
• includes download card
• music label: Jagjaguwar 2018

reviewed by singing in japanese 11/18