The UnthanksCountry of origin:England Type of music generally:Alternative evocative/eclectic contemporary folk, both traditional and trad-based Status:Most recent release, Diversions Vol. 4: The Songs And Poems of Molly Drake (2017); most recent release of own material, Archive Treasures 2005-2015 (compilation, 2015); most recent release of all-new own material, Mount the Air (2015) See also:The Unthanks' site Comparisons:The Unthanks' music comes somewhere between current "new folk" and traditional and neo-traditional artists like Eliza Carthy and Annie's Brigg, and The Watersons' edgy, dark traditional Yorkshire sound Covers/own material:Covers, cowritten, and traditional General comments:I love the Unthanks! With Here's The Tender Coming they became one of my favourite bands, but all their albums are really, really good. If you have any intererest in either traditional or new folk (their music is a kind of blend of both playing off each other), I highly recommend them. They blend contemporary sounds with very traditional ones from their native Yorkshire. I love their harmonies and the songs they sing. (Neile) Comments about live performance:I saw them live at a lovely little club in Reading. It was a good night. We loved the Unthanks show. Now, that was still when Belinda O'Hooley was with them; we haven't seen the new formation yet. (6/10, Silme@ix.netcom.com) Recommended first album:Here's the Tender Coming Recordings:
Cruel SisterRelease info:2005—Rabble Rouser Music—RR005 Availability:England Ecto priority:Highly recommended for fans of traditional and neo-tradiction music Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals, cello Guest artists:David Kotsky—guitar (2, 4) Produced by:Adiran McNally Comments:A singular collection of neo-traditional and traditional songs. Rough-edged and somewhat stark (mostly emotionally) and all the more powerful for it. Has a great cover of "Cruel Sister" which is particularly fun because of the sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank forming the band. A strong debut. (Neile) The BairnsRelease info:2997—EMI/Rabble Rouser—5099950438020 Availability:England Ecto priority:Highly recommended for fans of traditional and neo-traditional music Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals, cello, ukelele, feet Guest artists:Neil Harland—double bass (1) Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:Haunting from the first note of "Felt Lonnin" this is a strong, assured, impressive album. The songs are hushed, sometimes mournful, occasionally turning angry ("Blue Bleezing Blind Drunk"). The tone is mostly heavily emotional though there are humourous and lighter moments, such as the lilting "Blue's Gaen Oot o'the Fashion" and Blackbird", while "Fareweel Regality' is anthemic and the final "Newcastle Lullaby" is a lovely round song that turns into a haunting, more experimental sound. (Neile) Here's the Tender ComingRelease info:2009—Rough Trade/Rabble Rouser—RTRADCD548 LC-11945 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Rachel Unthank—lead voice (2, 4, 5, 7–10, 12); backing voice (1–4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12); cello (8); ukulele (10); clogs (12) Guest artists:Jo Silverston—solo cello (9, 12) Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:Here's The Tender Coming is one of my very favourite albums of 2009. Here the use of more contemporary, less traditional techniques is more obvious but they make the blend work so well for them! Here again there's a mix of livelier tunes with haunting, melancholy ones, though the darker songs predominate. "Lucky Gilchrist" is one of the best neo-traditional songs I've ever heard. This is a powerful album that is distinctive in the traditional/neo-traditional field and doesn't ever wear out its welcome. Highly, highy recommended. (Neile) LastRelease info:2011—EMI—095 5942 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals, kalimba (3) Guest artists:Ros Stephen—violin Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:I loved Here's the Tender Coming so much I was sure that Last couldn't live up to it. I am delighted to have been mistaken in that—Last is strong and full of delights as Here's the Tender Coming was. Again the darker and more mournful songs set the tone, from the powerful opener "Gan to the Kye" to the final full track "Close the Coalhouse Door". These are all such gorgeous tunes, simply and beautiful sung. The most upbeat track is the charming "Canny Hobbie Elliott", which Rachel describes as plaful—a pleasant constrast to the generally haunting tone of the album. Though several of the songs are contemporary, including covers of Tom Waits and King Crimson, the album feels utterly traditional and timeless. (Neile) Diversions, Vol. 1: The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons—Live from the Union Chapel, LondonRelease info:2011 (U.K.); 2012—Rough Trade (U.S.) Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended for fans of The Unthanks, Antony, and Robert Wyatt Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals, feet, dulcitone Guest artists:Ros Stephen—violin, vocals Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:Though I consider myself a huge Unthanks fan, this leaves me fairly cold, I suppose because I'm not a fan of either Antony or Robert Wyatt. I do appreciate the intensity of the Wyatt tracks, and really like their version of "Sea Song" (which also appears on The Bairns) and especially "the lively "Out of the Blue". I'm sad I don't like this more, but I have a lot of other Unthanks discs to play and love. (Neile) Diversions, Vol. 2: The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass BandRelease info:2012—Rabblerouser Records Availability:U.K. Ecto priority:Recommended for fans of The Unthanks Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals Guest artists:Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:While I do like this one better than Diversions Vol 1., this still isn't an essential Unthanks disc. However, it is a lot of fun, and it's interesting to hear how the brass enhances their sound and what it brings out in the songs. There are several lovely performances here, especially "My Lagan Love" and "Gan To The Kye," and Chris Price's performance on "Queen of Hearts" is a lot of fun. (Neile) Diversions, Vol. 3: Songs From the Shipyards (2012)Release info:2013—Rabblerouser Music Availability:U.K. Ecto priority:Highly recommended for fans of folk/traditional folk and/or of the Unthanks Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals Guest artists:Julian Sutton—melodeon (7) Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:The Diversions series has been up and down for my tastes, but here is the best so far: a collection of old and new shipyards songs, such as seem made for The Unthanks. A glorious, mournful, sad, and delightful collection. (Neile) Mount The AirRelease info:2015—Rabble Rouser Music Availability:U.K. Ecto priority:Highly recommended for fans of folk/traditional folk and/or of the Unthanks Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals Guest artists:Kuzzue Hibes—trumpet, flugelhorn Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:A new and dramatic collection of traditional and neo-traditional songs. The Unthanks really are a genre unto themselves, and this album epitomizes what they do so well: a contemporary and almost experimental take on traditional English folk sounds and harmonies. Most songs are mournful, with occasional leavening to round out the sound and mood. (Neile) Archive Treasures 2005-2015Release info:2015—RabbleRouser—RRM015 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended for fans of The Unthanks Group members:Rachel Unthank—voice, feet Guest artists:Becca Spencer—viola (5, 6, 8) Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:A collection of live songs and rarieties. A Christmas single (a Chrissie Hynde cover), lovely live versions, a couple of BBC sessions, an alternative demo, a recording for a Mojo Magazine compilation, etc. (Neile) Diversions Vol. 4: The Songs And Poems of Molly DrakeRelease info:2017—RabbleRouser—RRM016 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended for fans of The Unthanks and/or Nick Drake and/or soft, poignant ballads Group members:Rachel Unthank—vocals Becky Unthank—voice Adrian McNally—piano, voice Guest artists:Gabrielle Drake—spoken word Produced by:Adrian McNally Comments:Molly Drake was Nick Drake's mother, and she privately wrote and recorded her own songs and poems. The Unthanks and )Molly Drake's daughter, Gabriell Drake, for the spoken word) interpret them here in an album of gentle, thoughful ballads. Definitely not for everyone, or even for me unless I'm in the right pensive mood, but these are lovely songs and there's more than a hint of the influence her music had on Nick Drake's songwriting. (Neile) Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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