Unwed Sailor began as Johnathon Ford's (ex- Roadside Monument, and Pedro the Lion) side-project, and eventually evolved into his main musical outlet. In 2001, bassist Ford and guitarist Nick Tse (the only other regular member) collaborated on "the Faithful Anchor" to create complicated and pretty instrumental rock songs. Past albums have included recognizable names such as Matt Johnson (Roadside Monument/Blenderhead) and David Bazan (Pedro the Lion).
In the past two years, they've been hard at work on their latest record, "the Marionette and the Music Box". For followers, it's been a long wait, but the end result shows a great deal of hard work was put into this instrumental opus.
"The Marionette and the Music Box" conveys the tale of a puppet that becomes enthralled with a music box, their separation and subsequent reunion. Early on, it becomes apparent that this record is a considerable departure for the band. While there are still an abundance of melodies and themes, the arrangements are stripped down and minimal. The story is told through a variety of instruments and running musical themes. Gone are the complex drum rhythms and instrumental interplay. Instead, the listener is treated to simplistic songs, with a surreal, dreamlike feel.
"The Windmill's Tale" features a calming floorboard creak and the sound of waves, while "the Music Box" consists solely of a melody played on electric guitar. Other songs feature accordion, recorder, and some percussion. This is not to be played as background noise, but requires a good sound system or a set of headphones. Within the first few songs, the listener is pulled into the story and can easily get lost in it until the album ends.
What truly sets this album apart is its fantastic packaging. The gatefold digipack uses grey silhouettes of the story's feature players on a black background to great effect. However, a booklet is contained that tells the entire story of the album through fabulous illustrations (the album is available in a hardcover book edition, for those who love the concept and artwork). Each song is painstakingly depicted through paintings by artist Jamie Hunt, which bring the story to life and serve as an ideal companion to the music. A fairy tale such as this truly deserves a storybook.
For those who loved stories like "Pinocchio", and "Where the Wild Things Are", this album is a throwback to simpler times when a great storybook, some Lego, and a pen/pad of paper was enough to keep you entertained for days.
A+
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