The Unthanks
Dublin Vicar Street
9th April, 2011

Promoting their recent, string-heavy Last, The Unthanks began their mini-tour with a far richer sound than previously, thanks to a string section. But the secret of their success is the sisters, who, though not overly charismatic, are charming, personable and great harmonisers. Starting with a selection of new tracks, tonight was all about their music. The 10-piece gave tracks like Sad February an extra, deeper, dynamic sound. Gan To The Kye also had a haunting, ethereal resonance, and all the newer songs held their own against stalwarts such as the upbeat Lucky Gilchrist and popular encore of Blackbird. Their own inimitable interpretations of diverse genres from prog to roots in the form of Starless (King Crimson) and Close The Coal House Door (Alex Glasgow), are all starkly different, but succeed. The question remains whether a market exists for dirgy death ballads, but tonight’s appreciative crowd surely proved it does.