The Bay of Fundy by The Unthanks
Jordan Hoban | May 3, 2022
Album art for The Bay of Fundy.
The Unthanks are a sister duo from England who specialize in reinterpreting Northumbrian folk music. That’s about all you need to know going into their new single, The Bay of Fundy. The rest can only be experienced by listening to the song.
The Unthanks have a knack for vocal harmonies that feel other-worldly. They don’t try to hide their rich North of England accents, letting them inform their delivery, gliding effortlessly around the delicate arrangements of their producer, Adrian McNally.
Half inspired by the rhythmic explorations of Sufjan Stevens, and fellow English folk revivalist Sam Lee, the music deviates in interesting, emotive directions. The biggest draw for this track is that it tempers McNally’s sometimes busy production, honing in on a sound that works together with the thematic content of the lyrics. The horn counterpoints, the minimal guitar backbone, and the splashy drums surrounded by the sisters’ soft vocals give the single a simple urgency.
But the center of the song is The Unthanks’ harmonies. They’re pure, effortless, and yet exhibit a level of skill that impresses the listener with each verse. The sister’s harmonies came well before the formation of the band, and McNally is wise to let them stand at the center of the track.
There are few songs that capture my attention, but The Bay of Fundy by The Unthanks is one of them. Give it a listen. It won’t disappoint.
