Unicorn - Blue Pine Trees (Harvest-EMI, 1974, UK)

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

Get it here