The Unthanks Continue Their Modern-Ancient Folk Balladry on "Last"

If the Unthanks' title to their latest CD, Last (Rough Trade), means what it sounds like I will be disappointed. They've gotten my attention with some fine two-singer angelican warbles, nice arrangments of ancient Celtic-English and modern re-compositions or just plain old compositions in a kind of pre-industrial mode. There is beauty and sadness to this music. The vocals are highly distinctive, the arrangements make it seem like Robert Wyatt was reborn in the middle ages, took a time machine to the present and set to work.

This is their strongest album yet I believe. It is moving music, superbly done. Not the last. Not the last, please.