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Nick
Drake
Five
Leaves Left
Bryter
Later
Pink
Moon
Label: Hannibal Records
CD
review written for Spa Magazine Mar/Apr 2001
Like an early spring bluebell, British singer/songwriter Nick Drake bloomed
and withered too soon. Barely 26 years old when he died in 1974, Drake
produced haunting music that was all but ignored during his lifetime.
Yet, almost 27 years after his untimely death, Drake's sensitive, folk-infused
songs have proven evergreen, sparking attention from unlikely commercial
sources and influencing popular musicians such as R.E.M., Belle &
Sebastian, and Elvis Costello.
The only three full-length albums Drake recorded in his brief career have
now been lovingly re-mastered and re-released for a new generation of
fans to discover. Whether enjoyed individually or as part of a series,
they reflect Drake's beguiling ability to create music that appears simple
but is stunningly complex. Recent converts will marvel at the contemporary
quality of Drake's music, and longtime believers will find full lyrics,
intriguing new photos, and a clarity of sound that rivals the original
masters.
As a child of the '60s, Drake drew significant inspiration from his contemporaries—folk
icons such as Bob Dylan, Tim Buckley and Donovan—and his brilliant
first album, Five Leaves Left, reflects this. The album
set the standard for Drake's subsequent work, with songs such as "Time
Has Told Me" and "Day is Done" establishing him as a singer/songwriter
of uncanny insight and talent. This album also introduced a style of guitar
playing that relied on an intricate blend of tunings and fingerings no
guitarist has ever managed to replicate.
Drake's second album, Bryter Later, is an intriguing
mix of poppier numbers ("Hazey Jane II") and jazz-inflected
songs buoyed by sultry sax fills and rippling piano chords ("Poor
Boy"). However, his flair for bittersweet melodies and baroque guitars
is never far away, especially on the atmospheric "Northern Sky."
Combined with Drake's quiet yet assured vocals, these ten songs conjure
haunting aural images that shimmer and float around poignant, carefully
chosen lyrics.
Drake stripped himself bare for what was to be his final and most memorable
album, Pink Moon. Featuring just vocals and guitar, each
song resonates with emotion and seems the perfect reflection of this shy,
introverted young man's soul. Ironically, the use of the title track as
the soundtrack for a VW commercial has had the most impact on Drake's
posthumous career. While some Drake fans felt this exploited their idol,
it is possible that Drake himself might not have agreed. According to
Patrick Humphries' excellent biography, Drake craved success. Viewed in
that light, it is just possible that Drake might have been rather pleased
with the fact that after all this time, his career is in full bloom again.
Copyright
Lisa M. Moore
May not be reproduced in whole or part without my written
permission.
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