Firecracker (1999) - Made in Mexico / Burnt Toast Vinyl

After years of recording and performing with the prog-core Roadside Monument and then joining
Pedro the Lion, bassist Jonathan Ford wanted an outlet to perform bass-oriented songs that didn't fit with either band. He eventually decided to quit Pedro and move to Chicago. Just before moving, he invited his friends David Bazaan (Pedro the Lion), KC Wescott (The Vogue), and Melissa Palladino (who has recorded and performed with Damien Jurado, Jen Wood, and Danielson Famile) to help his songs come alive as Unwed Sailor. Recorded by Blake Wescott in 1998 at Casa Recording Co., Seattle, the Firecracker EP was originally released on Seattle's Made In Mexico label. Firecracker has since been re-released on the Philadelphia indie Burnt Toast Vinyl on CD and 7” vinyl.

The Faithful Anchor (2001) - Lovesick / Burnt Toast Vinyl

Unwed Sailor was formed in 1998 as the solo project of bassist Jonathan Ford, who at the time
provided low end for Roadside Monument, Pedro the Lion, and Damien Jurado. Unwed Sailor's debut effort, the Firecracker EP (released by Made in Mexico), implemented the talents of David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) on drums and Blake Wescott at the controls. After a year hiatus and a move to Chicago, Unwed Sailor resurfaced with guitarist/co-writer Nic Tse. The band spent the next year writing and performing new material with the likes of Low and Danielson Famile. The result, The Faithful Anchor, was recorded in 2000 in Indiana with Dan Burton (Early Day Miners, Ativin), Joe Brumley (Early Day Miners), and Matthew Johnson (Roadside Monument). The Faithful Anchor captures the band's trademark melodic instrumental, energetic sound, mixing in Eno-esque ambience and adding just a hint of experimentalism. Ford adds vocals to the final track, "The Quiet Hour," further stretching the boundaries of Unwed Sailor's sound.

Circle of Birds (2001) - Burnt Toast Vinyl

Johnathon Ford of Unwed Sailor and Roadside Monument grew up in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Burnt Toast Vinyl recording artists Ester Drang also hail from the Broken Arrow/Tulsa region. Members of Ester Drang were friends with Ford before he moved to Seattle to pursue his musical endeavors, but remained in contact over the years.

Circle of Birds is a combined effort between Ford, Ester Drang, and members of Oklahoma's country band, Lasso. This self-titled release was recorded in 48 hours in a practice room at the University of Tulsa, capturing the improvisational efforts of all involved. The result is a spectacular instrumental EP that combines the airy, orchestrated sounds of Ester Drang with the energetic indie approach of Unwed Sailor and just a hint of cowboy-inspired country aesthetic from Lasso members. The songs are highly melodic, cinematic, and fragile, serving as a snapshot of the recording session. The recordings were carefully mixed in Seattle by Pedro the Lion's David Bazan and Johnathon Ford.

Stateless (2002) - The Great Vitamin Mystery

Stateless is a collaborative project between the bands Unwed Sailor and Early Day Miners with photographer Chris Bennett.

Bennett traveled the United Stateless and Europe over the course of four years, documenting it all on Super 8 film. He eventually took all the footage and edited it together to make a 31-minute film of some of the most beautiful scenaries from around the world. From hustling city streets filmed from a tour bus to the surreal sunset over the waters of the south, this film takes the viewer on his journeys.

One spring weekend the members of Unwed Sailor and Early Day Miners collaborated, in Grotto Home Studios with instruments, a television, and a VCR. Using the images that Bennett had captured as inspiration, they wrote what would become a soundtrack to his film. Both the film and music are packaged together on one CD. The two can be watched as they were intended, on a computer, using the included Quicktime file, or the audio may be listened to separately on a stereo - either way, it is an amazing project to experience.

The Magic Hedge 7" (2002) - Tricycle-Evolutiff, out of print

The Magic Hedge was recorded during The Faithful Anchor sessions. The song was recorded as a
10 minute jam featuring Dan Burton (Early Day Miners), Joseph Brumley (Early Day Miners), and Matt Johnson (Roadside Monument). Later the song was dissected and assembled into what appears on this European only release. The B-side features a remix of “The Magic Hedge” by Dan Burton.

Unwed Sailor / Toboggan split 7" (2002) - Gentlemen Records

Originally recorded during the The Faithful Anchor sessions, this alternate version of the song “Firecracker” appears on this limited edition European only release. It features Dan Burton (Early Day Miners) on percussion.

The Marionette and the Music Box (2003) - Burnt Toast Vinyl

The Marionette and the Music Box is a subtle, but rich instrumental soundtrack to support the illustrated relationship of a marionette and a music box as they meet, become friends, separate, and reconcile. Unwed Sailor's Jonathan Ford and Nic Tse enlisted the help of regular drummer Matt Putman and friends Matt Depper and James Mcalister (Ester Drang) to play the rich tapestry of instruments that personify the characters in the story, presenting the story in 17 instrumental parts. Artist Jamie Hunt (Circle of Birds, Aspera) worked intimately with Unwed Sailor to illustrate the story of The Marionette and the Music Box. Hunt first built three-dimensional models of the characters, photographed various poses and scenes to create the story, and developed the painted panels from these photographs. Over a period of three months, Hunt brought the characters and story to life. These illustrations are as much a part of the release as the music itself. As such, both the CD and LP versions are presented with booklets of the illustrated story to accompany the music. — All Music Guide

For Jonathan (2004) - The Great Vitamin Mystery

Written and recorded in London/East Croydon, England in Oct./Nov/ 2002.
Co-Produced and Engineered by Daniel Freeman of Rameses III at Inorganic.

The film For Jonathan was created as a simple requiem for a friend, and a gift to a family that had just lost their son to cancer. The film is a seven-minute portrait of Jonathan Hicks, a close childhood friend of photographer/filmmaker Chris Bennett.

Jonathan died at age 23, after being diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer called Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor. The film, shot entirely in Super 8mm, is of Jonathan and was filmed near his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana. It was filmed a few months after Jonathan had been diagnosed with cancer, still in good health and spirits. After Jonathan passed away in October 2000, Bennett combined the footage of Jonathan with footage of clouds and landscapes. This, Bennett said, was to create an "ethereal portrait of Jonathan" which could serve as a keepsake for his friends and family. Bennett sent this film to various musicians in hopes that each would write a song that could serve loosely as "soundtracks" to the images he had created. The finished project became this beautifully combined compilation of songs all exclusive to this release, each honoring Jonathan's life and spirit.

The music from various genres lend themselves perfectly to this compilation. From the electronic beats of The Album Leaf and Mikael Jorgensen or the beautifully orchestrated piece from Unwed Sailor, and the sometimes almost painful tones of bands such as Ativin and Jessica Bailiff, each song is a completely different take on the complex subject of death and loosing a close friend. The diversity of the music has made it hard to pigeonhole where exactly this compilation should be filed, but it has also attracted the interest of music lovers from all backgrounds.

Proceeds from the sales of this CD will be donated in Jonathan Hicks' honor to the Children's Inn, located in Bethesda, MD. This served as Jonathan's "home away from home" while he received treatment from the National Institute of Health for two and a half years. This beneficiary was chosen by Jonathan's father. You may find out more about this wonderful place by visiting the website at childrensinn.org.

Circles (2006) - Burnt Toast Vinyl

Johnathon Ford went to Bloomington, IN to work on some remixes of an out-of-print Unwed Sailor 7”, The Magic Hedge, in the spring of 2005 with Dan Burton (Early Day Miners, Ativin). The two had previously worked together on the first Unwed Sailor full-length, The Faithful Anchor, and the Stateless collaboration between Unwed Sailor and Burton’s Early Day Miners.

There were good vibes in the Burton basement studio and the remixes were quickly engulfed by the goal to finish the new full-length, The White Ox. Ford and Burton were joined by guitarist Phillip Blackwell (Questions in Dialect) and Matt Griffin to mix up their medicine. The Circles EP is a sprawling 16+ minute opus with two separate movements, “Mist” and “Mesa”, originally intended to be part of The White Ox, but strong enough and different enough to stand alone and precede the full-length’s arrival. UK artist James Marsh was enlisted for the cover artwork for both Circles and The White Ox. His distinct mystical images have graced the covers of every Talk Talk release.