Unicorn was an English folk/country
rock band formed in 1963 by a bunch of scholars in their teens as an amateur
project. Later, they dropped out school and started to take their hobby into a
more professional basis, practicing almost every day and playing regular gigs. They
were heavily influenced by the ”Laurel Canyon Sound”, specially by the
countrified outfit of The Byrds and the superb vocal harmonies of CSN & Y.
It took almost eight years until they released their first record. Second one, featured on this new entry, was
released eleven years later. And it’s certainly a landmark, a very appealing
and gentle LP: West Coast rock made in UK.
What is found inside is not psychedelia or even progressive –as the precious
art cover could suggest- but a delicious collection of melodic soft rock tunes
produced by no other than David Gilmour. It resembles a lost Byrd’s circa
“Ballad of Easy Rider” session, featuring Clarence White!
Instrumentation includes delicious jangly 12 string
Rickenbacker; superb male vocal harmonies –I’m already satisfied-; cool chicken
pickin’ licks; acoustic guitars and mandolin; delightful piano accompaniments;
ultimate ‘70s drumming; groovy bass lines; even a xylophone in “Rat Race” and
astonishing pedal steel guitar effects trademark of maestro Gilmour.
Almost every track is worth
checking. There’s a lot going on musically speaking and contains a beautiful
assortment of diversity. You can find joyful jingle jangle in “Electric Night”
and “Sleep Song”; laid-back mystery intoxications in “Winter Wine”; countrified
ballad sensibility in “Just Wanna Hold You” and “The Farmer”; country-funk
blasts in “In the Gym”; dusty rockin’ excursions in “Holand”; delicate soulful
acoustic folk in “Ooh! Mother”. And I
leave the best for the last: the self-titled cut. Exquisite.
Just play it while gambling with a
Tarantula Juice in hand. A grower, definetly.
Tracks
A1. Electric Night
(Baker)
A2. Sleep Song (Baker)
A3. Autumn Wine
(Smith, St. John, Waters)
A4. Rat Race (Smith,
St. John, Waters)
A5. Just Wanna Hold
You
B1. Holland (Baker)
B2. Nightingale
Crescent (Baker)
B3. The Farmer (Baker)
B4. In the Gym (Baker)
B5. Blue Pine Trees
(Baker)
B6. Ooh! Mother
(Baker)
Personnel
Kevin Smith: Lead
Guitar, Mandolin
Pete Perrier: Drums,
Lead Vocals
Pat Martin: Bass,
Vocals
Kenny Baker: Guitar,
Keyboards, Vocals
David Gilmour: Pedal Steel Guitar
David Gilmour: Pedal Steel Guitar
