Not sure what I think of The Unthanks. This particular song, "The King of Rome" should demonstrate everything I like about them and otherwise. Using a large brass band to back them is novel and works most of the time. The lead singer has one of those voices that teeter on the edge of endearing and fey. But when the other two young ladies bring the harmony everything gels and it's a beautiful sound. I haven't been quite as impressed with other songs I've heard from them as I have with "The King of Rome". Plus, hearing the song without seeing who/what is responsible (ie. alone in the bedroom with headphones on) makes for a much more pleasant experience. That's not meant as a jab at the girls in Unthanks or anything else, really. I just think this is one of those songs you have to give your full attention to before it yields it's charms. So why am I including the YouTube video and not a Spotify link to the album? Simple. Spotify takes forever to load on this computer and I don't feel like waiting. I'll likely remedy that but no guarantees.
from Allmusic:
British folk group the Unthanks took shape in 2004 under a different name, Rachel Unthank & the Winterset. Formed by sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank, the Winterset released two albums and earned a loyal following in the U.K. before switching monikers in 2009. With a slightly different lineup in place -- one that featured Rachel's husband, pianist Adrian McNally, as well as fiddler Niopha Keegan and guitarist Chris Price -- the Unthanks released their debut album, Here's the Tender Coming, that same year. Here's the Tender Coming made a big splash in Europe, where it was named one of 2009's best releases by Mojo, The Guardian, and Uncut. After touring heavily in support of the album, the Unthanks returned to Rachel and Adrian McNally's Northumberland home to record another batch of songs. The result, Last, was released in spring 2011. The following year saw the release of the group's first live recordings, Diversions, Vol. 1: The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & the Johnsons: Live from the Union Chapel, London, Diversions, Vol.2: The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, and Diversions, Vol. 3: Songs from the Shipyards. Mount the Air, the group's first studio album in four years, arrived in early 2015. 2017 marked a return to the group's Diversions series, with The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake, which saw the band delivering a set of recordings that chronicled the works of the mother of British folk icon Nick Drake.
Ah...now reading the Allmusic biography I see I may have heard them before without knowing. I'm pretty sure I listened to that Molly Drake retrospective when it first came out, although then again that was only last year and I'm thinking it was longer. Now that I think about it, the Molly Drake thing I heard was actual recordings of her singing and playing piano, not a tribute kind of thing. Will have to look that up.
In the meantime, if your curiosity is piqued you may want to visit their official website, THE UNTHANKS.
ADDENDUM: Okay, I'm on my own computer now and so can post the embed link for the album from which "The King of Rome" is taken. At the moment I'm listening to the Molly Drake tribute disc, Diversions Vol. 4: The Poetry and Music of Molly Drake. Only one song into it and I can tell you already that I love it. I'm going to have to give this The Unthanks a place in my "Must Listen" queue. In the meantime, here's Diversions 3:
THE UNTHANKS on Spotify
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