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Middle of the Trail

2101¬Rootsy folkster Ray Lamontagne continues his career as a Radio 2 botherer with his new album. Critics see it as competent but hardly revolutionary, scores coming it at around 6 or 7.¬False¬

Towering achievement?

2098¬There's a very rare 10/10 from The Skinny for the rapper, pianist and producer's album, released to accompany a feature film also written and produced by the maverick Canadian. Such enthusiasm is not shared by the BBC or music OMH, who regard it as interesting but only partially successful.¬True¬

Well-liked

2103¬Mostly pretty favourable reviews so far for the LA all-girl quartet's 2nd album. In the 5 years since their debut, they've moved from alt.rock to garage pop - with the help of one Mark Ronson on production duties.¬True¬
Here's the Tender Coming

The Unthanks

Here's the Tender Coming

Mercury-nominated Northern English folk quartet led by sisters Rachel and Becky Unthank with their first album in their new format

Critics average rating

7.5

Label
EMI
Release date
22/09/2009
  1. 8.0 |  The Observer

    Amid a blossoming British folk scene, the group remain a distinctive presence
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  2. 8.0 |  The Guardian

    …it's the gentle but unsettling vocals and harmonies of the two sisters that dominate the set, but the arrangements are even braver and more confident than before
    Read Review

  3. 8.0 |  Uncut

    An often exquisite mixture of light and dark, instinct and artistry, that honours both the power of old songs and the stoicism of the lives that shaped them. Rarely has the deep past sounded so stirring, or so modern
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  4. 8.0 |  State

    The stories are local and the sound is warm and it asks you to abandon the world outside when listening and if the mood takes you (and it will) have a good whisky to hand
    Read Review

  5. 8.0 |  Spin

    Its doomed subjects are well served by the band's dark, gentle strums and ghostly piano lines
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  6. 7.0 |  Sydney Morning Herald

    Neither has a regulation voice but they do have tenderness and spirit
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  7. 7.0 |  FasterLouder

    Essentially a traditional folk record re-contextualised in the modern world. The magic comes from the sister’s voices that can blend seamlessly or wander off in different tonal directions
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  8. 6.0 |  Rave Magazine

    When the group transcend their instrumentation and lock into more radical textures and sounds, the album soars. They just need to let go more
    Read Review

Track preview & download

The Unthanks: Here's the Tender Coming

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. Because He Was A Bonny Lad £1.29
  • 2. Sad February £1.29
  • 3. Annachie Gordon £2.79
  • 4. Lucky Gilchrist £1.29
  • 5. The Testimony Of Patience Kershaw £1.29
  • 6. Living By The Water £1.29
  • 7. Where've Yer Bin Dick £1.29
  • 8. Nobody Knew She Was There £1.29
  • 9. Flowers Of The Town £1.29
  • 10. Not Much Luck In Our House £1.29
  • 11. At First She Starts £1.29
  • 12. Here's The Tender Coming £1.29
  • 13. Betsy Bell £1.29
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Pain and pleasure

2105¬Can the third of the three Mancunian electro-ish bands which featured in the BBC's Sound of 2010 list emulate the success of their counterparts, Delphic and Everything Everything? The jury's still out so far. NME is a big fan of the duo's 80s-inspired synthpop anthems, but The Guardian is far from convinced, and others find the album stylish but unremarkable. ¬True¬

Dream team?

2070¬You would imagine that one revered master of popular music working with the material of another revered master of popular music would result in something quite special. However that doesn't appear to be the case, according to many critics. Some find the album partially successful, others are seriously underwhelmed, such as The Guardian, which describes it as "horrible". ¬True¬

Mixed reactions

2106¬Very mixed views around on the fourth album from New York's prime purveyors of post-punk gloom, now back at their old label, Matador. Most critics accept they've moved on from the danceable rhythms and singalong hooks that leavened their earlier work. The reaction to what remains is very varied: some, such as Uncut, regard it is refined and elegant; others such as Spin regard the new material as dull rather than hypnotic. ¬True¬

floor fillers

2096¬The latest torch-bearers of nu-disco would appear to be the Brooklyn/Vancouver collective led by Dandilion Wind Opaine and Szam Findlay. Fan Death's debut album is receiving some serious praise from critics who appreciate their particular melding of Italo house, synthpop, electro and early 80s gay disco.¬True¬