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15 October 2003

Unwed Sailor, The Marionette and the Music Box (Gentlemen Records/Burnt Toast Vinyl)
Is "excited" a term used concerning Unwed Sailor's latest output? Well, yes and no. Although the opening "Morning in the Forest" sounds promising, it is more of an unfinished idea put to tape. The core of Jonathon Ford and Nick Tse give "The Marionette's Cottage" a better performance leading into the pretty and picture-perfect "Cuckoo Clocks. The Call of the Windmill", an enjoyable piece of music whose melody is timeless and infectious. The use of instruments and the approach used has almost a Ry Cooder atmosphere to it or early Pink Floyd, particularly on the rolling waves of "The Windmill's Tale of the Music Box Floats through the Air, Riding the Windmill" and "Lost and Alone". Yes, the titles are often a tad wordy, but listeners will be easily lured in. There is a certain sense of this being a melancholic lullaby, particularly given the tone and instruments used over its four minutes.

Although not integral to the album, the fine artwork in the liner notes complements the sounds greatly. "In Search of the Music Box" possesses a different, urgent tone as the bass line works against the acoustic guitar playing. The accordion on "The Meeting of the Marionette and the Music Box" is a slight departure and gives the album a new breath of fresh air. "At Peace in the Forest" takes on a certain natural music sound with the chirping of birds and other animals. The Celtic tinged "The Distraction. A Conflict of Interest. Enchanted by the Unicorn" is an obvious highlight, but there are too many here to mention. This is a quality piece of reflective music from start to finish.
      — Jason MacNeil

.: posted by Editor 11:04 AM