Thank You Very Much
With the hauntingly timeless Last, siblings Rachel and Becky Unthank and their group The Unthanks deliver a wonderfully quaint LP. Hailing from the small county in England, Northumberland, this sister-led quintet have definitely been getting some well-deserved buzz in the folk world, yet they continue to remain true to their unique sense of style with some epic, large-scale sound and musical additions. In their fourth studio LP, the band has seemed to create a somber yet sweet collection of modern sounds with classical roots.
The opening notes first track “Gone to the Kye” take the listener to an altered state of mind set in a distant land. This track is a perfect opener, for it gives the setting and mood of the album’s entirety. The string arrangements are absolutely stunning, and the dual voices of the Unthank sisters are quite astonishing.
Tantalizing melodies and mind-tapping rhythms are the central vibes of “Queen of Hearts.” From the percussion and piano to the horn and string sections, this song delivers everything wrapped in one. The romanticized sounds of sadness in “Starless” and “No One Knows I’m Gone” seem to be perfectly fitting for the albums chillingly picturesque mood.
The final track, “Close the Coalhouse Door,” seems to fade the audience out of the 11-track dream sequence and back in the hustle and bustle of the real world. It is easy to slip back into this beautifully created dream world; Last is the perfect album for the mind, body and soul to be misplaced in. This group continues to be an important contributor to the world of music. A wonderful album and a must-listen.