Spotlight – 37: The Unthanks

I’m usually extremely cynical about this sort of music, these arrangements, these voices. I mean, for starters, this is way too Jools Holland territory for me.

There again, the amount of music that boogie-woogie man features on his BBC show – designer coffee-table or not – he has to get it right occasionally. Law of averages, or something. As must The Guardian, Uncut, Elvis Costello and the general self-satisfied smug “left-of-centre” mainstream. This is just the right side of understated (even if it does come across as too mannered and self-knowing on occasion) and reminds me of The Roches… if only The Unthanks would loosen up a fraction.

And anything that reminds me of The Roches MUST be a good thing.

Here”s the video I was enjoying.

And here’s their MySpace page.

by Everett True

My name is Everett True. I am a music critic. This is what I do. I criticise music. The clue is in my job description – music critic. I do not consider myself a journalist, as I do not research or report hard news. I do not consider myself a commentator as I believe that everyone should be a participant. I criticise people and in return I am not surprised if other people criticise me. It is part of the whole deal of being in the public arena. I am Everett True. Believe in me and I have power like a God. Quit believing in me and I no longer exist.