The Unthanks - Mount The Air
The Unthanks confound this reviewer's expectations and produce the natural successor to Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden.
Years ago, I heard something by Rachel Unthank & The Winterset. It brought to mind historical re-enactments, Morris dancing, bad cider and worse real ale so I pretty much ignored The Winterset and Unthanks. Based on Mount The Air, I’ve been a fool. Released on The Unthanks own label, two years in the making, recorded in an old granary building, written and produced by Rachel Unthank’s pianist husband Adrian McNally, this may be the most beautiful album I have heard for a long time.
This isn’t folk but uses folk as a starting point to jump into classical- and jazz-tinged territory. Like Talk Talk’s Spirit if Eden this is inventive, a group satisfying their own artistic desires. The title track is a thing of beauty based around strings, bass, gentle percussion, trumpet and gorgeous vocals. With the exception of Magpie, all of the songs on the album more-or-less follow this template. Magpie stands out with its almost a cappella vocals over drones that fade in and out. The musicianship is never flashy but is of the highest standard throughout. Tom Arthurs’ stunning trumpet warrants special mention.
At times, this is a bit New Age, a bit Enya. It isn’t perfect but it gets pretty close.
9/10
Released 9th February 2015
The Unthanks // Mount The Air Rabble Rouser
Years ago, I heard something by Rachel Unthank & The Winterset. It brought to mind historical re-enactments, Morris dancing, bad cider and worse real ale so I pretty much ignored The Winterset and Unthanks. Based on Mount The Air, I’ve been a fool.
Released on The Unthanks own label, two years in the making, recorded in an old granary building, written and produced by Rachel Unthank’s pianist husband Adrian McNally, this may be the most beautiful album I have heard for a long time.
This isn’t folk but uses folk as a starting point to jump into classical- and jazz-tinged territory. Like Talk Talk’s Spirit if Eden this is inventive, a group satisfying their own artistic desires.
The title track is a thing of beauty based around strings, bass, gentle percussion, trumpet and gorgeous vocals. With the exception of Magpie, all of the songs on the album more-or-less follow this template. Magpie stands out with its almost a cappella vocals over drones that fade in and out.
The musicianship is never flashy but is of the highest standard throughout. Tom Arthurs’ stunning trumpet warrants special mention.
At times, this is a bit New Age, a bit Enya. It isn’t perfect but it gets pretty close.
Pavlis (9/10)
