297) Nick Drake - Bryter Layter

What I can tell you about Nick Drake:

1)     He’s died of an overdose over fifty years ago.

2)     He sold hardly any records in his lifetime.

3)     I have never heard a note of his music.

Yep, that’s it, thanks for reading.

I know it’s hard to believe but I do research for these reviews (yep and they are still this average, shocking I know) I have had a read online and none of his three albums troubled the charts yet there must be something there as we all know him and there is still an interest in him and his music all of these years later.

Bryter Layter was his second solo album arriving two years after his debut, Five Leaves Left and a year before his final album Pink Moon followed by his tragic death at just twenty-six years old in 1974. Okay another thing I thought I knew was that Drake was a solitary figure well certainly not for this record with a cast list of an additional thirteen musicians including names known to me Richard Thompson, John Cale, and PP Arnold.

On first listen my thought was I was not keen on his voice. Usual three listens it has grown on me and on a ten-track album there are two absolute classics. At The Chime Of A City Clock the sax is slowly introduced and builds and becomes an essential key instrument on the track. Poor Boy has a stunning lolling piano throughout (with a brilliant solo) a simple acoustic guitar and for me is elevated to classic status when PP Arnold and Doris Troy join Drake on the vocals.

Hazey Jane II Richard Thompson adds his always perfect guitar to an upbeat number with added brass. One Of These Things First Drake’s guitar playing is exquisite. Northern Sky, John Cale joins him through a simple but sweet song. Sunday closes the album with flute and acoustic guitar before drums (they enhance throughout) and bass arrive, this is the third instrumental on a ten track and for me only the title track failed to register.

Don’t be an ignoramus like me, listen to Nick Drake.

7/10

GIVE IT A STREAM: Poor Boy