Unicorn - 2023 - You Are

(39:51; Silver Label)

Track list:
1. You Are 4:50
2. Fear 2:25
3. Original Sin 3:03
4. 12 Days 3:15
5. Honestly 4:13
6. In Hell You Are 5:28
7. I Wonder 3:27
8. Unreality 4:05
9. Star 3:42
10. Bird 5:23

Line-up:
Tonje Ettesvoll - vocals, keyboards, saxophones, clarinet
Andre Storeng - keyboards, hammond B3, grand piano
Dan Johnsen - guitars
Kristian Edvardsen - bass
Marco Minneman - drums, guitars
with:
Kelly Daoust - guitars
Jan Tariq Rui-Rahman - guitars, accordion, backing vocals
Marte Eberson - keyboards
Sidsel Walstad - harp
Sigrun Eng - cello
Sunniva Oftedahl - violins
Finn Harrisson - backing vocals
Robyn Stone Ettesvoll - backing vocals


Prolusion.
Norwegian project Unicorn is the creative vehicle of composer and musician Tonje Ettesvoll. The Unicorn project dates back to 1998, making it's debut with a live performance, and with an album following in 2003. Some 20 years later Unicorn returned with the album "You Are", released on the Silver Label. A label that I suspect may be the artist's own label.

Analysis.
Unicorn have a history that, to my knowledge, is a bit outside of the ordinary. Or at least with a background of the kind many artists probably wouldn't be as open about. As stated in the official bio: "Unicorn, led by Tonje Ettesvoll, began in 1998 with a performance at a centre for survivors of abuse". With Ettesvoll being rather open about her specific background on the Unicorn website.

Musically I do see why this project is named Unicorn, although the reason for the name probably resides in other factors than mere music. While classic rock is if not a staple on this album then at least one of the main recurring elements, this is a production that is a bit all over the place in terms of style and orientation. Psychedelic details and Americana flavored creations coexist quite nicely, sometimes in the same song too, with as well as without a classic rock backing. Some jazzier escapades make their way into this album too, with one of the songs combining this with a more atmospheric laden variety of progressive rock to create a landscape not too far removed from what gave a band like Camel a following back in the day. Delicate piano ballads with as well as without string instrument support is a presence too, and the string instruments are used very well to add depth and a majestic arrangement to one of the classic rock numbers at hand too. That Unicorn adds a little bit of ska to the proceedings, tastefully borrowing some cues from early days Madness in doing so, is another of the charming bits about this album.

And charming is something of a key word here for me. The vocals are delivered with emotion and passion, in many cases carrying the songs with what sounds like a very honest and emotionally invested delivery. To the point that some of the songs that in themselves aren't all that engaging for me as a listener gets an instant lift when the vocals are added to the total experience. For some of us music is more important than mere entertainment, and I get an impression that for Ettesvoll the description of music as a tool for survival would possibly make sense. In addition I would suspect that the notion that variety in music is important would be understood as well, as different types of music have different functions when used as survival tools in one way or another.

Conclusion.
This second album by Norwegian project Unicorn is one that probably doesn't fit neatly into the scope of any particular demographic among music fans. But for music lovers with a wide and liberal taste in music this production may well be a rather charming acquaintance. An album to give a check by those just as fond of jazz and Americana as they are of progressive rock and classic rock.

Olav "Progmessor" Björnsen, March 2024

Links:
https://www.unicornvoice.com/