Today marks the 40th anniversary
since Nick Drake's death; and those 40 years tell a story of a cult singer-songwriter
hidden among the dust - mercifully, peacefully in his Tanworth-in-Arden grave.
But it's not his tragic death taking the news, or leading the tributes. Drake's
music has been an important part of everyone's folk catalogue for a number of
years, be it 10 or 40. Leaving behind three albums is more than some that die
so young, and it's those three albums - specifically his last Pink Moon, which resonated with
so many music fans across the world. Nick Drake: 10 Essentials.
~Eddie
Gibson
10. Time Has Told Me
The introduction to Drake's music - album one, track one.
"Time Has Told Me" evokes the spirit of Nick Drake right from the
start with its slowly developing acoustic guitar, and subtle, but soulful
voice. With Richard Thompson of Fairport Convention on lead guitar, this has
become a staple-mark in Drake's discography, an influence on his own music, but
essentially his timeless piece of folk rock.
9. Fruit Tree
Also on Five
Leaves Left is "Fruit
Tree", a much admired Drake recording."Fame is but a fruit
tree, so very unsound. It can never flourish, til its stalk is in the
ground," he sings,
angelically, confidently - but that sense of lacklustre can already be heard so
early on in Drake's music. The string arrangements are carried out by Robert
Kirby, a partnership Drake carried with him on his first two albums, adding
that classic British folk undertones heard so passionately.
8. Hazey Jane II
One uncharacteristic piece in Drake's work is "Hazey Jane
II", the magnificent full-blown recording of Drake and friends including
Thompson & Kirby collaborating once more, with Dave Mattacks and Dave Pegg
of Fairport Convention giving this track an ultimate, folk rock band sound.
It's somewhat chirpy, as Kirby's brass intends to add a different dimension to
Drake's sound, and it does. The coming together of Fairport Convention
musicians with Drake at the forefront gives "Hazey Jane II" a
complete feel of Drake's unsuccessful work within the small financially viable
British folk community at the time.
7. Fly
Among the Bryter Layter gems is "Fly", a track recorded
with John Cale of The Velvet Underground and Pegg from the aforementioned
Fairport Convention. It's really Cale's contribution which makes
"Fly" one for the list - historically traditional harpsichord played
to perfection, and the viola Cale has come to be known for. It's a piece of
polished instrumentals, played professionally and put together by a more than
tearful Drake vocal: "Please
give me a second grace."
6. From the Morning
The first Pink
Moon inclusion, and arguably
one of Drake's most important songs. It was of course the final track on
Drake's final album, but doesn't resemble that of a goodbye. "From the
Morning" highlights Pink
Moon's solo aesthetic -
recorded by John Wood, with only Drake as a contributing musician, it's a world
apart from the earlier Five
Leaves Left and Bryter Layter, and an
iconic ending to Drake's music career. Inspires the epitaph on Drake's
headstone taken from the song: "And
now we rise, and we are everywhere," a
beautiful ending to Pink Moon,
more so in it's lyrical structure and delivery.
5. Which Will
"Which Will" is another timeless classic in Drake's repertoire.
It sits comfortably on Pink
Moon, separated from the
previous albums and 'noise' in comparison to the clarity and persistent
acoustics of Pink Moon, particularly "Which Will" - "And tell me now, which
will you love the best." It's
simply easy on the ear, interesting to the though, and powerful among the Pink Moon tracks.
4. Place to Be
The second track on Pink
Moon carries on the energy
from the opener (mentioned later.) "Place to Be" doesn't over do it
on the instrumental side, it's main focus is carrying the track on and reaching
the sentimental values searched on Pink
Moon. Listening back, it's hush vocals and lush chord progression add
dominance to Drake's sound - more so than the Kirby arrangements on the
previous two albums. Drake fulfils his duties, and offers up the best lyrics on
Pink Moon, taking the listener away from the Van Morrison-esque purposely
flawed recording: "Now
I'm darker than the deepest sea. Just hand me down, give me a place to
be."
3. One of These Things First
Easily my personal favourite Nick Drake song, "One of These
Things First" stands tall as Bryter Layter's enigmatic piece of commercial
viability. Unlike its single cousin "Northern Sky", this particular
Drake song took on a simple, yet strange structure musically - actually
including almost, just almost a chorus the folkies wanted so badly from Drake
as the unknowns hearing his work for the very first time circa 1970. Of course,
this song of struggle and expectation has been repeated throughout Drake's
work, but none executed so well. His use of household objects as meaningful,
valuable objects to others and the world brings his own desperation and
depression to a whole new level, questioning his offering, and signalling what
he ultimately could have been.
2. Pink Moon
A masterpiece, a recognised song to all, a pink, pink, pink,
"Pink Moon". One verse, repeated once more in the latter part of the
song, "Pink Moon" creates the reason why we keep coming back to
Drake's music. Unpolished, yet sounding absolutely brilliant, "Pink
Moon" features Drake's laden acoustic guitar and one single overdub (the
only on Pink Moon,) a
timely piano - a cameo almost, but it ties the song together with immense
effect. One of his best and one to be remembered as the Pink Moon opener - the beginning of Nick Drake's
end.
1. Northern Sky
Lyrically, "Northern Sky" is a Drake rarity. It's
carefully optimistic, becoming objectified as a traditional love song. It's
played so harmlessly, matched by Drake's happy, yes happy, vocals of gratuity
towards his subject. "Northern Sky" is a Nick Drake single, one which
was expected to propel Drake in to some sort of commercial success. The
inclusion of John Cale wasn't Drake's idea, nor was it thought by Cale, but Joe
Boyd, Drake's trusted producer. With Cale's inclusion on piano and overdubbing,
his improvised ingenuity took what Drake had, and pushed it - just not towards
the money unfortunately for Drake. "Northern Sky" is different to the
typical Drake song, and it's how Drake perceived his own sound and efforts
throughout his music discography that shine so bright here. He showcases his
optimism, his happy side, that he wasn't depressed creating his music. He was a
perfectionist of the highest calibre, and respected the music he put out -
"Northern Sky", although styled towards single life, takes the heart
of Drake's new and old audience and combines it with his very own tortured
soul.