The Hegarty songs are largely focused on transgender politics and work unexpectedly well with the sisters' voices: 'You are my sister' had a totally different feel to it when Becky and Rachel shared the vocals, and 'For today I am a boy' was hearbreakingly beautiful. As part of the between-the-songs chat, Rachel told a story of how, when Becky was little, she believed that as she grew to her elder brother's age, she'd become a boy, and then when she reached Rachel's age she'd turn back into a girl. As the audence laughed, Adrian - the mastermind behind the project and Rachel's partner, wryly commented: "What you're hearing is the trivialisation of a sensitive man's struggle to come to terms with his sexuality" - even bigger laugh!
The songs of Robert Wyatt were more readily accessible, and when Rachel sang 'Out of the Blue', with it's chorus of "You have planted all your everlasting hatred in my heart", I just wanted every Israeli ever born to be forced to sit in a room and hear it until the message got through. It describes the reaction of a Palestinian whose house has been destroyed, but it could apply to any conflict where civilians get bombed. You can hear the original being sung by Wyatt at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOh4VqCc3-Q
Then there was the indescribably beautiful 'Sea Song', which was, apparently. where the project started. One of my favourite songs, it was even more beautiful when sung by the sisters.
The album is out and is a joy, but should they ever tour these songs again, don't miss it.
The best word is left to Robert Wyatt:
"Quite simply, Antony & The Johnsons and I have been blessed by angels. If I had to take a single summary of what Alfie [ Robert's partner] and I have being doing over the years to the proverbial desert island I wouldn’t take one of our own records. I’d take the crystal clear interpretations of The Unthanks." Robert Wyatt
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