Songs from the Shipyards: Difference between revisions
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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In a four-starred review ''[[The Observer]]'''s Neil Spencer described it as "a stark creation, using little more than piano, violin and voices" but said that its [[minimalism (music)|minimalism]] "lends poignancy to songs and poetry narrating the glory and grime of a vanished era".<ref name="Spencer - Shipyaards">{{cite news | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/oct/28/the-unthanks-songs-from-shipyards-review | title=The Unthanks: Songs from the Shipyards – review | work=[[The Observer]] | date=28 October 2012 | accessdate=10 November 2012 | author=Neil Spencer | location=London}}</ref> In another four-starred review, Andy Gill for ''[[the Independent]]'' referred to "the wistful blend of piano and ambient sounds" on "The Romantic Tees" and Becky Unthank's "soft timbre" and Rachel Unthank's "more ingenuous tone" on "Black Trade" and "A Great Northern River".<ref name="Gill">{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/the-unthanks-diversions-vol-3-songs-from-the-shipyards-rabblerouser-8368155.html | title=The Unthanks, Diversions Vol 3: Songs from the Shipyards (RabbleRouser) | work=[[The Independent]] | date=1 December 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=Andy Gill}}</ref> |
In a four-starred review ''[[The Observer]]'''s Neil Spencer described it as "a stark creation, using little more than piano, violin and voices" but said that its [[minimalism (music)|minimalism]] "lends poignancy to songs and poetry narrating the glory and grime of a vanished era".<ref name="Spencer - Shipyaards">{{cite news | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/oct/28/the-unthanks-songs-from-shipyards-review | title=The Unthanks: Songs from the Shipyards – review | work=[[The Observer]] | date=28 October 2012 | accessdate=10 November 2012 | author=Neil Spencer | location=London}}</ref> In another four-starred review, Andy Gill for ''[[the Independent]]'' referred to "the wistful blend of piano and ambient sounds" on "The Romantic Tees" and Becky Unthank's "soft timbre" and Rachel Unthank's "more ingenuous tone" on "Black Trade" and "A Great Northern River".<ref name="Gill">{{cite news | url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/the-unthanks-diversions-vol-3-songs-from-the-shipyards-rabblerouser-8368155.html | title=The Unthanks, Diversions Vol 3: Songs from the Shipyards (RabbleRouser) | work=[[The Independent]] | date=1 December 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=Andy Gill}}</ref> |
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However, Jen Bowden, for ''[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]]'' felt that it "lacks the buzz of previous Unthanks albums... As a film soundtrack it is an emotive, image-ridden heart-breaker, but as an stand-alone listen it too easily fades, like its ghosts, into the background."<ref name="Bowden">{{cite news | url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/the-unthanks-diversions-volume-3-songs-from-the-shipyards | title=The Unthanks – Diversions Volume 3: Songs from the Shipyards | work=[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]] | date=9 November 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=Jen Bowden}}</ref> And [[Martin Townsend (journalist)| Martin Townsend]], writing in the ''[[Daily Express]]'', said that "Rachel and Becky Unthank’s admirably prolific output is beginning to count against them a little, as the delicacy of their earlier work gives way to a slightly clichéd earnestness."<ref name="Townsend">{{cite news | url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/356099/CD-Review-The-Unthanks-Diversions-Vol-3-Songs-From-The-Shipyards | title=CD Review: The Unthanks, Diversions Vol 3: Songs From The Shipyards | work=[[Daily Express]] | date=4 November 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=[[Martin Townsend (journalist)| Martin Townsend]]}}</ref> |
However, Jen Bowden, for ''[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]]'' felt that it "lacks the buzz of previous Unthanks albums... As a film soundtrack it is an emotive, image-ridden heart-breaker, but as an stand-alone listen it too easily fades, like its ghosts, into the background."<ref name="Bowden">{{cite news | url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/the-unthanks-diversions-volume-3-songs-from-the-shipyards | title=The Unthanks – Diversions Volume 3: Songs from the Shipyards | work=[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]] | date=9 November 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=Jen Bowden}}</ref> And [[Martin Townsend (journalist)| Martin Townsend]], writing in the ''[[Daily Express]]'', said that "Rachel and Becky Unthank’s admirably prolific output is beginning to count against them a little, as the delicacy of their earlier work gives way to a slightly clichéd earnestness."<ref name="Townsend">{{cite news | url=http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/356099/CD-Review-The-Unthanks-Diversions-Vol-3-Songs-From-The-Shipyards | title=CD Review: The Unthanks, Diversions Vol 3: Songs From The Shipyards | work=[[Daily Express]] | date=4 November 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=[[Martin Townsend (journalist)| Martin Townsend]]}}</ref> |
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Yet John Lewis, in a four-starred review for ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]'', appreciated the Unthanks' sisters' "spine-tingling harmony". He said that The Unthanks "conjure a lament for a dying industry without recoursing to empty nostalgia or unearned sentimentality".<ref name="Lewis">{{cite news | url=http://metro.co.uk/2012/12/07/the-unthanks-diversions-vol-3-songs-from-the-shipyards-is-spine-tingling-3304993/ | title=The Unthanks Diversions Vol 3: Songs From the Shipyards is spine-tingling | work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]' | date=7 December 2012 | accessdate=11 April 2015 | author=John Lewis | location=London}}</ref> |
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== Track listing == |
== Track listing == |
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Revision as of 17:30, 11 April 2015
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Songs from the Shipyards, the seventh album by English folk group The Unthanks, was released on 5 November 2012. The album is designated Vol. 3 in The Unthanks' Diversions series and follows on from Vol. 1 (The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons) released in November 2011 and Vol. 2 (The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band) released in July 2012.
It is a studio-recorded album of songs from a soundtrack, compiled by The Unthanks, which was first performed live in February 2011 at Newcastle upon Tyne’s Tyneside Cinema to accompany the showing of a documentary film by Richard Fenwick about the history of shipbuilding on the Tyne, Wear and Tees.[1][2][3] The album includes Elvis Costello's "Shipbuilding" and songs by Graeme Miles, Alex Glasgow, Archie Fisher, John Tams, Peter Bellamy and Jez Lowe, plus a centrepiece track, "The Romantic Tees", written by Adrian McNally.
The album received four-starred reviews in The Observer and The Independent.
Reception
In a four-starred review The Observer's Neil Spencer described it as "a stark creation, using little more than piano, violin and voices" but said that its minimalism "lends poignancy to songs and poetry narrating the glory and grime of a vanished era".[4] In another four-starred review, Andy Gill for the Independent referred to "the wistful blend of piano and ambient sounds" on "The Romantic Tees" and Becky Unthank's "soft timbre" and Rachel Unthank's "more ingenuous tone" on "Black Trade" and "A Great Northern River".[5]
However, Jen Bowden, for The Skinny felt that it "lacks the buzz of previous Unthanks albums... As a film soundtrack it is an emotive, image-ridden heart-breaker, but as an stand-alone listen it too easily fades, like its ghosts, into the background."[6] And Martin Townsend, writing in the Daily Express, said that "Rachel and Becky Unthank’s admirably prolific output is beginning to count against them a little, as the delicacy of their earlier work gives way to a slightly clichéd earnestness."[7]
Yet John Lewis, in a four-starred review for Metro, appreciated the Unthanks' sisters' "spine-tingling harmony". He said that The Unthanks "conjure a lament for a dying industry without recoursing to empty nostalgia or unearned sentimentality".[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Romantic Tees (Prelude)" | Adrian McNally | 1:33 |
| 2. | "A Great Northern River" | Graeme Miles | 3:40 |
| 3. | "Black Trade" | Jez Lowe | 4:36 |
| 4. | "Fairfield Crane" | Archie Fisher, Bobby Campbell | 1:52 |
| 5. | "Big Steamers" | Rudyard Kipling, Peter Bellamy; arr. The Unthanks | 5:19 |
| 6. | "All in a Day" | Alex Glasgow | 3:24 |
| 7. | "The Romantic Tees I. The Romantic Tees II. Tyne Slides By III. The Looking Back Song" | Adrian McNally & Chris Price, Graeme Miles Alex Glasgow Johnny Handle | 9:43 |
| 8. | "Shipbuilding" | Declan McManus, Clive Langer | 3:46 |
| 9. | "Monkey Dung Man" | Jez Lowe | 2:06 |
| 10. | "Taking on Men" | Jez Lowe | 1:27 |
| 11. | "Only Remembered" | John Tams | 3:55 |
Total album length = 41:21
Personnel
- The Unthanks
- Rachel Unthank – voice
- Becky Unthank – voice
- Niopha Keegan – violin, voice
- Adrian McNally – piano, harmonium, drum, voice
- Chris Price – guitar, bass, voice
- Additional musicians
- Keith Hill – vibraphone on "The Romantic Tees"
- Julian Sutton – melodeon on "The Romantic Tees"
References
- ^ Tamzin Lewis (24 February 2011). "Unthanks soundtrack brings life to shipyards film". The Journal. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|work=(help) - ^ Tim Adams (27 February 2011). "The Unthanks: 'We're miserable buggers and not afraid of it'". The Observer. London. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
- ^ Jeff Brown (23 February 2011). "The Unthanks celebrate Tyneside shipbuilding heritage". BBC website. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Neil Spencer (28 October 2012). "The Unthanks: Songs from the Shipyards – review". The Observer. London. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- ^ Andy Gill (1 December 2012). "The Unthanks, Diversions Vol 3: Songs from the Shipyards (RabbleRouser)". The Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ Jen Bowden (9 November 2012). "The Unthanks – Diversions Volume 3: Songs from the Shipyards". The Skinny. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ Martin Townsend (4 November 2012). "CD Review: The Unthanks, Diversions Vol 3: Songs From The Shipyards". Daily Express. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ John Lewis (7 December 2012). "The Unthanks Diversions Vol 3: Songs From the Shipyards is spine-tingling". Metro'. London. Retrieved 11 April 2015.