English folk group The Unthanks, formerly known as Rachel Unthank and The Winterset, has been leading the neo-folk renaissance since its acclaimed debut in 2005. The band's third album, Here's the Tender Coming, was released in 2009 to similar praise.
Led by namesake sisters Rachel and Becky, the quintet mixes classic folk with lush instrumentation -- and sometimes morbid, thought-provoking lyricism. With many awards to their belt -- 2005's Cruel Sister was awarded folk album of the year by the British music magazine Mojo -- the Unthank sisters are as dedicated to creating dreamy backings as they are to playing traditional folk. It's no surprise that the group counts among its fans Radiohead, Robert Wyatt and Portishead.
Here, Rachel and Becky Unthank play live songs from Here's the Tender Coming and discuss what it's like to be hated on by "the folk police." Accompanying the Unthank sisters in the studio on this visit are Niopha Keegan on fiddle, Jo Silverstein on cello, Rachel's husband Adrian McNally on piano, Chris Price on guitar and bass, and Dean Ravera on drums and double bass.
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