Nick Drake – Five Leaves Left (1969)

I've avoided buying Drake's albums until now, not because I dislike his music, but a strange idea that since I have Way To Blue, one of the many 'best of/introduction' compilations, and I don't play that too often, I'd be disappointed by the rest. But seeing this at a boot fair, in poor condition and cheap, I decided to take the punt. It plays just fine, and with a new jewel case, it's a bargain.

I wasn't really aware of Nick Drake until long after he died, and didn't hear any of his music until the resurgence of interest in him in the late 1980s. So what of this, his debut album?

Well, it's really rather good. Time Has Told Me kicks off the album, a gentle song (I don't know why I wrote that, they're all gentle songs) with a lovely country guitar accompaniment form Richard Thompson, followed by the lovely River Man, slower, with some quiet strings sitting under Drake's soulful voice. Three Hours is a little more uptempo, Drake displaying his dextrous guitar work, followed by a slower song, Way To Blue, dominated by the string accompaniment. Day Is Done, similarly, flows along, ending the first half, the second half opening with the lovely Cello Song. The rest of the songs are possibly lesser known Drake, but they fit beautifully together. The Thoughts Of Mary Jane is wistful and ethereal, with flute and guitar, Man In A Shed is possibly the least interesting song here, a plodding blues riff in a piano folk style, Fruit Tree is laid back and lovely, with a nice orchestral accompaniment and finally Saturday Sun, a song which feels like an ending, gently brings things to a peaceful conclusion.

This is why I don't trust compilations. While the average song quality might be better, they too often don't hold together in the way an album all from one time does. The songs on this might not all be the strongest, but as a whole piece it's more satisfying than the compilation (which itself was good).

Link to full album

4* - a fantastic debut album from an enigmatic soul