Diversions: V1

In December 2010, The Unthanks staged a concert that was at once both fun and their most daunting project yet. Over two sold out nights at the Union Chapel, London, their exploration of music by ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS and ROBERT WYATT was an irreverent joy. The concerts made THE INDEPENDENT’s ‘Gigs of the Year’ list 2010, and are now captured on this remarkable live album. Rachel and Becky Unthank have long found kindred energies in the proudly maverick English soul of Robert Wyatt. Their interpretation of his ‘Sea Song’ was one of the real jewels of Mercury Music Prize nominated second album ‘The Bairns’, and regarded by Wyatt himself as the finest interpretation by another artist of his songs. Wyatt was helpful and enthusiastic to the band in their preparations for this project, pleased that his songs are being performed live, given that he himself chooses not to perform these days. Similarly, they have previously dipped their toe in the water with Antony Hegarty’s music. ‘For Today I Am A Boy’ was a showstopper in the early days of Rachel Unthank & The Winterset.