The new album entitled Last by Tyneside group, The Unthanks, is out today and it contains a striking version of Starless. Hauntingly beautiful, it’s probably the best KC cover these ears have heard. Here’s what Unthanks member Adrian McNally has to say about Starless in the sleeve notes for the album.
“A song from the 1974 album “Red” by King Crimson, about depression we think. The guitar melody we have given to the trumpet is one of the most beautifully sad, plus I wanted to do the vocal melody justice, which I don’t think was done on the original. Like Robert Wyatt, King Crimson are one of the few prog acts from that time that outside the prog world still have some cred, cited for example by Kurt Cobain as an influence. For me, they got it wrong as often as they got it right but if you’re going to push boundaries and yourself as an artist, you’re going to get it wrong some of the time, which is precisely why I admired them so much! I love the bits I don’t like as much as those I do! My mission impossible with the end section was to take John Wetton’s mighty bass riff, which embodies everything in prog that is angular, male, spiky and difficult, and try to turn it into something serene and graceful.”
You can win a copy of Last by The Unthanks by telling me the name of the album which features a cover version of Sea Song by Robert Wyatt.
If that bit of knowledge isn’t on the tip of your tongue then visit The Unthanks website and have a rummage through the album covers on their music page (hint hint).
Once you have the answer drop it in an email headed UNTHANKS, along with your postal address to competitions@dgmlive.com. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday 21st March.
The album has been picking up so many plaudits in the mainstream press but you can read my take on it over on the blog.
“A song from the 1974 album “Red” by King Crimson, about depression we think. The guitar melody we have given to the trumpet is one of the most beautifully sad, plus I wanted to do the vocal melody justice, which I don’t think was done on the original. Like Robert Wyatt, King Crimson are one of the few prog acts from that time that outside the prog world still have some cred, cited for example by Kurt Cobain as an influence. For me, they got it wrong as often as they got it right but if you’re going to push boundaries and yourself as an artist, you’re going to get it wrong some of the time, which is precisely why I admired them so much! I love the bits I don’t like as much as those I do! My mission impossible with the end section was to take John Wetton’s mighty bass riff, which embodies everything in prog that is angular, male, spiky and difficult, and try to turn it into something serene and graceful.”
You can win a copy of Last by The Unthanks by telling me the name of the album which features a cover version of Sea Song by Robert Wyatt.
If that bit of knowledge isn’t on the tip of your tongue then visit The Unthanks website and have a rummage through the album covers on their music page (hint hint).
Once you have the answer drop it in an email headed UNTHANKS, along with your postal address to competitions@dgmlive.com. The lucky winner will be announced on Monday 21st March.
The album has been picking up so many plaudits in the mainstream press but you can read my take on it over on the blog.
