The Unthanks // Diversions Vol 3

Well this is a lovely little thing. The Unthanks are a traditional folk band who have been successful within that field for several years now. They were asked to create a series of songs to make a soundtrack for a new film tracing the history of shipbuilding on Tyneside over the last 100 years.Having performed as no less than a a 10 peice band since 2009, this collaboration with Tyneside Cinema sees the group pared down to a minimal 5 piece. It is a collection of folk songs drawn from the history of shipbuilding, some protest songs, some laments for what has been lost, and perhaps the most striking piece of music, The Romantic Tees, which falls in the middle of the album and just about breaks you. With a beautiful sad piano playing over the recorded sounds of the shipyards...machinery chugging away, horns blaring and shouts from the shipbuilders it's so evocative and just beautiful. This piece lasts for almost 10 minutes and makes you feel like you're really there. Magical. And yes, Elvis Costello's famous track is covered on this album, rather hauntingly. A very moving tribute to a world disappeared, and an album filled with beautiful music that anyone can relate to. Well done The Unthanks.