UNKLE - Where Did The Night Fall

First reaction: UNKLE is still around?!?!?! This is a solid effort, and you’ll like it if you’ve embraced the reality that there will never be another Psyence Fiction. Predictably, the CD features a bunch of guest stars, although these are more of the pscyh- and indie-rock variety vs. the electronic collaborators in previous albums. Lots of songs about heartbreak which are alternately forlorn, dreamy, or ever-so-slightly raging.

NO FCCs detected. Try 2, 6, 3, 4, 9, 12
**=loved, *=liked


1. 0:41 Nice intro, rising synth chimes with Southern-hemisphere-esque synth horns. Good for a short voice-over for rpm-oriented shows.

2.** 4:23 Features SF psychedelic band Sleepy Sun. Fem vox are always assertive and compelling, sometimes screaming and wailing, like a (relatively) happier PJ Harvey or Kim Deal (Pixies/Breeders). Danceable, driving mid-tempo drum machine beat that MGMT wishes they could steal.

3.* 4:11 low-fi instrumentation and distorted male vox make for a retro-garage rock jam a la The Strokes (and similar) but MUCH less kitschy. You close your eyes and you are in a sweaty DIY space in West Oakland, dancing amid ironic t-shirts and PBR tallboys. Then, halfway through, they decide they want to noodle out a bit more, and the guitar gets a bit more jangly/surfy/New Wave-esque, which is also fun but kills the mood a bit. (features The Black Angels)

4.* 3:59 somewhat dreamy, lighter in mood than #2, beats are funky while a bit sedate. Dreamy synth sounds, ethereal fem vox with male background on chorus. By this point I imagine this is a staple on KCRW’s “eclectic” shows. (features Autolux)

5. 4:41 down-tempo, somewhat orchestral indie rocker a la The Flaming Lips. Male vox are stripped-down in the verses while the chorus sounds like a male, um, chorus. Real drums play a marching beat. (features Big in Japan)

6.** 4:53 opens with a Cure-esque riff that persists through the song. Quite pleasing. Lightly distorted fem vox with up/mid dance beat.

7. 5:49 down-tempo indie rocker with live drums, scattered tribal percussion, male vox. Somewhat boring.

8. 1:13 dreamy, synth keys, heavily distorted male vox, no percussion

9.* 5:08 psychedelic fem vox, synth keys, live-sounding drums, “spiritual”. More of a head-nodder than a dancer. Beats somewhat like New Order, etc.

10. 4:30 mid-tempo. dark synth keys, funky drum loops, generic distorted male vox. A middling, poor man’s Underworld song.

11. 3:46 mid-tempo tribal rhythm, synth keys, somewhat dark. Sounds like some of the earlier DJ Shadow stuff.

12.* 4:21 mid-tempo, distorted male vox, relatively upbeat mood compared to rest of CD. Dramatic chords and funky keys here and there.

13. 4:27 slow-to-mid, epic, dark yet uplifting (is that possible?). emotional male vox recall Stone Temple Pilots. live percussion - drums, vivid tambourine

14. 5:12 slow with minimal percussion. stripped-down sound with acoustic-esque guitar, epic strings, piano, asstd keys. gritty male vox are overwhelmed in parts by the strings.