Unicorn by Rio Kosta–Album Review
Unicorn by Rio Kosta–Album Review
Sometimes you listen to an album by a new artist and almost immediately feel as though you’re being wrapped in a warm blanket of intimately crafted music, basking in its auditory glow. That’s the feeling I had while listening to Unicorn, the debut album by Rio Kosta. The duo—Mike Del Rio and Kosta Galanopolous—draw on the musical influences of their respective heritages and fuse them with both modern and classic sensibilities, plus a whole lot of soul. The result is a genre-defying set of songs that offers listeners a welcome respite from the outside world.
The album’s opening trio of tracks sets the tone, beginning with the single “Mountain Top,” a lavish cut that evokes a ’70s exploitation-soundtrack vibe in the best possible way. “Ancients” opens with a Middle Eastern–inspired intro before settling into a deep bass groove, punctuated by surreal lyrical lines like, “In a past life, I’m gonna see you again.” “Follow the River” is a fun chunk of funk that flows just as its title suggests.
Spotting the influences and roots of Rio Kosta’s music can be enough to give you whiplash. The duo cites disparate inspirations such as War, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and The Beatles, and you can hear shades of all of them throughout. “Volar Lejos (Like a Feather)” might be the clearest example, blending Latin-inspired rhythms, gorgeous harmonies, and a subtle psychedelic tinge.
“One With You” recalls Cake and Beck with its syncopated grooves. “Unicorn,” the first song the duo created together, is a spacey jam featuring a celestial choir interspersed with a nursery rhyme–like chorus, achieving a sound that feels both grandiose and restrained. At times, the album even brings to mind the Check Your Head/Ill Communication era Beastie Boys. There’s also a touch of Marley-esque reggae on “Save My Soul.”
Shervin Lainez
This is an album where it’s easy to tell the artists are not only in a creative groove but truly reveling in the act of making music. While they’re often compared to fellow genre-bending groove band Khruangbin, Rio Kosta’s melting pot of influences sets them apart. They effortlessly blend every musical style they’ve absorbed into a cohesive, endlessly funky album that flows from start to finish. The falsetto vocals soar across many of the tracks, adding an extra touch of soul. Unicorn lives up to its name. The production and arrangements are impressive for a debut, and it’s the perfect soundtrack for a laid-back weekend morning—perhaps with a little wake-and-bake. If this is where Rio Kosta are starting, it will be exciting to see just how high they can soar.
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