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Unicorn — Last Orders
(Think Like a Key TLAK1244, 2007/2026, CD)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2026-09-26

Last Orders Cover art

When I reviewed Shed No Tear: The Early Late Unicorn, I concluded that Unicorn was an enjoyable but often unremarkable band whose pleasant country-rock rarely rose above the level of comfortable listening. While I admired the musicianship and vocal harmonies, I found myself more drawn to the group's earlier folk-psych leanings than to their increasingly Americanized country-rock direction. In many ways, Last Orders both confirms and challenges that assessment. This 37-track archival set is arranged chronologically, beginning with five live recordings from 1971. Frankly, these tracks explain why Unicorn failed to make much of an impact at the time. The performances are competent but generic, and songs like "Fully Baked" suggest a band still searching for an identity. The musicianship is solid enough, but there is little here that separates Unicorn from countless other early-70s folk and country-rock acts. The collection improves dramatically with the 1972 demos. "Me and My Worried Head" and "Good Times" show a growing confidence, but "Mary" is the first genuine revelation. Built around beautiful orchestration, acoustic guitars, piano, harmonica, and soaring harmonies, it is one of those rare archival discoveries that makes one wonder why it remained unreleased for so long. The biggest surprise comes from a set of 1974 soundboard recordings from Boulder, Colorado. Here Unicorn finally sound like a band worthy of David Gilmour's admiration. "Electric Night" recalls Dylan's Nashville Skyline period, while "In the Gym" stretches beyond country rock through inventive bass and keyboard work. The nearly nine-minute "Keep On Going" reveals an unexpected strength: Unicorn could jam! Its groove-driven performance evokes Delaney & Bonnie, The Hollies, and even the communal spirit of the Grateful Dead. The crown jewel of the collection is "Sleep Song." Despite its title, this is no lullaby. Strong lead vocals, memorable guitar work, rich harmonies, and an energetic live performance combine to create the finest track in the set. Along with "Nightingale Crescent," "Take It Easy," and the touching closer "The Farmer," it demonstrates that Unicorn's best moments occurred when they allowed their influences to merge into something uniquely their own.

Disc Two is considerably less consistent. Much of the 1976 demo material suffers from the same issue that affected portions of Shed No Tear: excellent players operating within a genre that had become increasingly formulaic. Tracks such as "Sitting in Line," "Does It Have to Be This Way?," and "Heatwave 76" are pleasant but forgettable. The problem is not the musicianship; it is the songwriting. Too often the band sounds content to entertain itself. Fortunately there are several standout exceptions. "Bon Soir Blues" injects a welcome dose of rootsy blues-rock, while "Nighttime" and "Long Road" finally achieve a recognizable Unicorn identity by blending folk, psych-pop, and country-rock influences. The late arrival "If You Ain't Scared" is an unexpected highlight, introducing edgy guitar work and subtle reggae inflections that make one wonder why the band never pushed further in that direction. So is Last Orders better than Shed No Tear? Unequivocally yes. While both releases contain their share of pleasant but unexceptional material, Last Orders uncovers several genuinely excellent tracks, most notably "Mary," "Nighttime," and the superb "Sleep Song." More importantly, it reveals a side of Unicorn that was largely absent from Shed No Tear: a band capable of stretching out, taking chances, and occasionally transcending its country-rock limitations. Not every song here earns its place, but the best moments suggest that Unicorn came closer to greatness than I originally realized.

Filed under: Archives, 2026 releases, 2007 recordings

Related artist(s): Unicorn

More info
http://thinklikeakey.bandcamp.com/album/last-orders

 

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