Unthanks - In Winter

  by Zena Grieg

published: 1 / 2 / 2025

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Tyneside folk quintet ‘The Unthanks’ (Rachel and Becky Unthank, Adrian McNally, Niopha Keegan and Chris Price) have brought out “In Winter” - a Christmas album with a difference. The group are renowned for their unique eclectic approach, infusing traditional folk songs, especially Northumbrian, with other musical genres. Recorded in one wintry week on the North York Moors, ‘In Winter’ is a mix of traditional Christmas carols interspersed with lesser-known medieval songs and original compositions, all marked by their own distinctive style. Songs to listen out for in this nineteen-track collection include: the opener with its delicate piano-playing; ‘O Tannenbaum’ with its melodic, layered harmonies; ‘Dark December’ with its jazz overtones and resonating saxophone; a vibrant version of the Traditional Catalan lullaby ‘Carol Of The Birds’, famously sung by Joan Baez in 1966; the idiosyncratic ‘The Cherry Tree Carol’, from the fifteen century, featuring a jealous Joseph; a stripped-back ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’; the haunting, mournful ‘River River’; homage to the NHS during the pandemic ‘Nurse Emmanuel’; the rousing fan favourite, written by the Unthank father George, ‘Tan Barrel In Dale’; and the closer, the ballad ‘Dear Companions’, an original composition co-written by Becky, with its stirring impressive choral finale. With its imaginative interplay between dark and light, beginnings and endings, ‘In Winter’ is a contemplative, intriguing collection.

Track Listing:-

1 In Winter's Night
2 O Tannenbaum
3 Dark December
4 Gower Wassall
5 The Holly And The Ivy
6 O Come All Ye Faithful
7 Carol Of The Birds
8 Carol Of The Beasts
9 The Cherry Tree Carol
10 Bleary Winter
11 In The Bleak Midwinter
12 The Snow It Melts The Soonest
13 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
14 Coventry Carol
15 River River
16 Nurse Emmanuel
17 Tar Barrel In Dale
18 Greatham
19 Dear Companions

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Unthanks/202472563113172
http://www.the-unthanks.com/
https://twitter.com/theunthanks
https://www.instagram.com/theunthanksband

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Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg