The reanimated
UNKLE's second album in three years consists of recordings made before and during the period that produced
The Road: Pt. I. Orchestrator
James Lavelle has likened it to "a mixtape and a journey." Although the subtitle echoes
David Lynch's 1997 film, the album's travelogue quality evokes a dystopian version of The Straight Story. Long enough to nearly fill a 90-minute cassette, this plays out like an extended alternate version of
Pt. I. It's similarly dominated by pensive ballads with mournful strings, cyclonic synthesizers, and churning guitars shaken up by the odd, hurtling rhythm. Likewise, many of the featured players return in similar roles, from
Mark Lanegan, who again sets the tone in salvation-seeking form, to the
Duke Spirit's
Liela Moss, who once more makes a late appearance in a moment of hard-fought dancefloor release. All the ruminations on distress, contrition, and recovery are enlivened somewhat by flashbacks to
Lavelle's formative hip-hop years, like the
Skull Snaps break and
Al Green sample that support "Ar.Mour," and a following direct reference to
DJ Shadow's "Lost & Found (S.F.L.)," a landmark release on his innovative
Mo Wax label.
Lavelle's high level of enthusiasm can be sensed throughout. ~ Andy Kellman
