The Unthanks - Sorrows Away
It has been a long time coming, but the wait is almost over! The Unthanks' first full ensemble studio album in seven years is finally released on October 14th. Not that 'Sorrows Away' will contain many surprises for those who packed into St Andrew's Hall for a concert, here in Norwich, back in April of this year. The audience was treated to a jaw-dropping show, complete with 11-piece band, which included all but one of the tracks from the new album in that evening's setlist.
It would be interesting to learn whether Rachel and Becky Unthank, two of the band's primary vocalists, share any familial roots with the celebrated Norwich Unthanks, originally from Northumberland, and who were responsible for the development of what would later become known as The Golden Triangle area of the city, as well as lending their name to Unthank Road.
However, I digress. 'Sorrows Away', with its unapologetically upbeat title, celebrates not only our emergence from Covid lockdown, but also acknowledges The Unthanks' loss the use of their old recording studio, and their decamping instead to a new home near Hexham, where they fashioned and recorded their latest opus. The result is a brilliantly fresh and inspired collection, a worthy sucessor to their 2015 BBC Folk Album of the Year, 'Mount The Air'.
Once again, 'Sorrows Away' contains a treasured selection of skilfully re-arranged traditional songs, supplemented by two original compositions, and a cover of 1960's folk singer Gordon Bok's 'The Bay of Fundy', a stirring seafaring song with its on-board sense of isolation and loneliness, about a ship's crew stuck off the coast of Nova Scotia, in an area famous for having one of the largest tides in the world.
Other stand-out tracks include 'The Old News', co-written by Becky Unthank and Adrian McNally, inspired by the branches of an old oak tree, and dealing in timeless truths as loved ones attempt to choose their own paths and destiny. A slightly up-tempo number, it also includes a number of interesting modulations and contemporary influences within its four minute run time. Meanwhile, Rachel Unthank captures a moment of gentle Spring optimism in 'The Isabella Colliery Coke Ovens', the remains of which can, to this day, still be seen near Throckley, in Tyne and Wear.
McInally's arrangement of 'The Sandgate Dandling Song' is another instant classic, with East European flavours and a brand new verse further enhancing this famous North East folk standard. 'My Singing Bird' blends Celtic influences with Yorkshire pit music as Niopha Keegan takes on lead vocals, and Lizzie Jones' trumpet provides the brass. Chris Price's guitar adds yet another layer of beauty to the children's classic 'Waters of Tyne'.
Add to this the haunting 'to-die-for' vocal combination of Rachel and Becky throughout, and 'Sorrows Away' becomes an album that is undeniably guaranteed not to disappoint, and further cements their reputation as one of this country's greatest contemporary folk ensembles.
9/10
