The fittingly-titled Diversions documents two nights at London’s Union Chapel in which North East clog-dancing pin-ups The Unthanks took a palate-cleansing break from the recording of their own material to perform short sets from the songbooks of contemporary music’s most individual composers.
Having made live favourites of Wyatt’s Sea Song and Antony Hegarty’s For Today I Am A Boy, the move was not without precedent. It was, however, a brave one; not only would the band have to do these songs justice, but sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank would be charged with the task of filling the boots of two of the most extraordinary vocal talents of recent times.
Happily, Diversions is a low-key gem. The sisters’ plaintive, pure voices bring out a new element in the Antony & The Johnsons material. The songs are direct and often overwhelmingly emotive and any listeners put off of Hegarty material by his vocal histrionics will find themselves admiring the deftness of his craft. The selection of Wyatt material is interesting, too, given his considerably larger discography. Here The Unthanks excel when interpreting some of his later classics, with material from 2003’s remarkable Cuckooland taking priority. Lullaby For Hamza is a particularly gorgeous choice, demonstrating how worthwhile the first of the Diversions is.
