Unthanks – Hebden Bridge Trades Club (December 2009)

The Unthanks get a folkingcool reprieve

This isn’t the review I expected to write. Not yesterday, and definitely not at 10 o’clock tonight when I had tears in my eyes and insufficient breath in my lungs to sustain uprightness. I’d been all but floored by a Ewan MacColl number of staggering beauty that really showcased what a great song, an amazing arranger and a first class team of musicians can do. At this point I was ready to follow one or more Unthanks into battle, should they choose to call on me. Which would be daft. I’d be rubbish. But I would have gone.

I should explain. And perhaps apologise. Whisper it soft, I don’t really like Here’s the Tender Coming. I don’t mind it, but I loved The Bairns so much that it feels flatter by comparison, despite it’s lushing up in the orchestra department. And there aren’t the head-and-shoulders standout tracks that we’re used to. I was worried that they’d do that new album thing and play all the new songs and leave me without any stray hinnies to worry about or liberties to say fareweel to. And this is pretty much what happened. With a couple of exceptions (Felton Lonnin was perfect, Blackbird royally buggered up by a self-confessed “homage to the Penguin Cafe Orchestra”, shame on you all).

The big problem I have with the new album is that the otherworldly voice of Becky Unthank (surely one of the most arresting and distinctive instruments in music today) is used like a shotgun, rather than reserved like a secret weapon as it has been in the past. I know, I know. She’s earned the right to be up the front belting them out, but the lack of sparseness robs it of the shock and awe that such a unique voice deserves.

But then I was seduced. The physicality of the sound the band was able to produce in such a tiny hall loosened jaw muscles and I had forgiven all (see previous pledges of military fealty). The new songs sounded awesome, the clogs were sparking, jokes were cracking. And then it went a bit bleh. Tonight was their third gig at the same venue in two days, and the set list was different each time. Maybe this time it was a bit off kilter. For me, at least, the set slid downhill in terms of pace and energy. Ah well.

Great to be seeing one of the most assured bands around in a venue that still gives you a feel of hem-touching levels of access. Rachel Unthank is a general on stage. You should have seen the look she gave the guy doing the lights when he screwed up a cue. When you see the two Unthanks coyly clog dancing, it’s tough to match the Granny’s parlour image with the heavyweight feats of musical bravura that they’re stage managing.

So, not what I was expecting. I thought I’d be let down by a lack of Bairns. And I was. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the new songs. But I did. I thought I’d weep to Blackbird. I didn’t (But am listening to it now. Floods. Why the Penguins? WHY?) Would I go again tomorrow? Yes. And the day after. And the day after that. I’m still a fan boy.

P.S. The violin players are fit. Official.

P.P.S. The support, Jonny and Lucy. Loved it, bought the album. Ta.