Shed No Tear: The Early Late Unicorn
Think Like A Key, 2024
10/10
Listen to Shed No Tear: The Early Late Unicorn
The English legends Unicorn see their formative and final years assembled across these 22 songs which unfold with their timeless and unique folk rock ways that no one has seemed to parallel.
The warm guitar and crisp drums of “Open Sea” starts with Ken Baker’s fluid guitar and smooth voice guiding the harmonic climate, and it isn’t long until Pat Martin’s playful bass suits the intimacy of “Singing Your Praise”.
Further into the 1977-1978 Sessions, “Restless” is full of meticulous guitar playing and frisky percussion that’s got plenty of rhythm, while “Family Tree” starts off The Late Recordings 1967-1969 with a busier approach of rawness and melody.
Deeper still, “Working Man” recruits mesmerizing keys and a distinct dreaminess that showcases Pete Perryer’s skilled drumming, and the bonus track, “Weekend”, was tracked live in 1975 and allows for the band’s timeless vision to radiate beauty via their inimitable, country-rock ways.
Unicorn released 4 albums during their existence, but many compilations have documented their brief but luminous career. Similarities to Big Star, The Byrds, The Eagles and Dave Gilmour won’t go unnoticed, and the garage rock and psychedelic traces they employed sure do sound great all these decades later.
Travels well with: Ward White- Ward White Is The Matador; Nick Frater- Oh Contraire!