Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a group known for their lo-fi mixing and simplicity. The SILICON rework of “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone” takes that warmth and turns it into a sparser soundscape, with a more electronic feel and muffled vocals. The original instrumentals are traded out in favor of synth, and it doesn’t feel natural – this track would have no place on Multi-Love, even if the fact that it was a remix were specified. Indeed, it seems very conscious of the fact that it is a remix, and works hard to convince the listener that it’s bringing something new and fresh to the table. At certain points, cricket-like chirping and steady clapping are the only sounds we hear. The original version is steady, upbeat, and effortlessly catchy, all the markings of a bona fide Unknown Mortal Orchestra song. SILICON strips away its key elements and what remains is merely a skeleton, unfulfilled of its potential. This isn’t to say that it’s a bad or unlistenable remix – it simply comes across as inauthentic, which is a grating realization when considering that Ruban Nielson (the mastermind behind UMO) is one of the most genuine musicians in indie rock today.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone (SILICON Remix)”
