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Albums about relationship-induced heartbreak aren’t uncommon. Albums that explore that concept in the context of polyamorous relationships are undeniably rare.

Ruban Nielson, the Portland, Ore.-based, New Zealand-born musician behind psych-pop outfit Unknown Mortal Orchestra, found his marriage reimagined when another woman joined their union—a dilemma quite different from the deep, road-induced loneliness he sang about on the band’s last effort, “II.” “Multi-Love,” UMO’s third album, explores that new relationship in all its uncharted and emotionally overwhelming territory. “It’s not that this song is about her/All songs are about her,” Nielson sings on the opening title track (of his wife or their lover, it’s not totally clear). His slippery falsetto makes the song the album’s thesis statement with, “Multi-love’s got me on my knee/We were one and then become three.” He dives into the newfound neuroses that new arrangement brings on “Can’t Keep Checking My Phone” when he whines, “I’m kinda busy, could you call back again?/I’m sure you’ll come back/’Til then I/Can’t keep checking my phone.” Calm reassurances arrive on “Extreme Wealth and Casual Cruelty” with, “If we were just strangers then we would fall in love again.”

When Nielson doesn’t talk about highs and lows of “Multi-Love,” he sometimes indulges in druggy half-jokes like, “Jesus doesn’t know my name/He charge me 50 bucks a gram” on the sing-along “Like Acid Rain.” On closer “Puzzles,” Nielson changes up the feel of the album by going to bigger issues, wondering, “America/Open up your door/Is it right to always fight against ‘the other?’ ” before failing to offer solutions with “I don’t want to solve your puzzles anymore.”

“Multi-Love” trades much of the lo-fi ramshackle charm of his early releases to shiny synths and professional-grade recordings. Nielson, who self-recorded and produced the album, also keeps it in the family: His brother and former Mint Chicks-bandmate Kody makes guest appearances playing synths and drums, while his father provides horns on “Necessary Evil,” the album’s strongest and most understatedly soulful offering.

Love between two people is tricky enough. While Nielson and his band occasionally indulge in some half-baked ideas both musically (some ’60s derivative psych on “Stage or Screen”) or thematically (“The World is Crowded” has a groaner come-on in, “Did your doctor prescribe me for what ails you, dear”), “Multi-Love” has too much of a compelling backstory, too many great melodies and too many solid songs to ignore.

3 stars (out of four)

In concert: Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Saturday, June 6 at Lincoln Hall.

jterry@redeyechicago.com, @joshhterry

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