Tracks
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This is where it all began for Nick Drake’s short yet wonderfully vibrant musical career. Tragically Nick Drake died only 5 years after this album was released but not before producing some of the most chilling, beautiful and amazing folk music ever heard! At age 26 his was an untimely death similar to those of other talented musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Jim Croce and Jeff Buckley where the performer was never able to put a foot wrong. This is indeed an album where every element was carefully performed for it to be “just right”.
The album is likely to blow you away from the beginning with the timeless classic “Time has told me.” The soft yet powerful piano and acoustic guitar playing works as a solid soundtrack to Nick’s carefully crafted lyrics and effective vocal delivery. ‘River Man’ is a darker, more atmospheric piece backed with string work that is emotionally moving. ‘Three hours’ is led with phenomenal guitar playing where Nick hits notes which many wouldn’t know how to and others didn’t even know existed. Words alone cannot do justice to the amazing sounds he is able to come up with, needless to say it will leave the listener in awe and amazement. ‘Way to blue’ is a breathtakingly melon collie and beautiful masterpiece backed with solid violin work. ‘Day is done’ produces a vibe that will give the listener the feeling as if the sun is setting and daylight is fading. ‘Cello song’ has a very fast guitar sound creating a strong rushing feel. ‘Man in a shed’ is a slight contrast to the rest of the album with a jazzed up and bright vibe. The album closes with the piano driven ‘Saturday Sun.’
This is an album with many layers. On the surface it is a collection of beautiful folk tunes. Going deeper it also shows some astounding instrumentation that is noting short of musical genius, and also has many layers within itself which will give listeners new and old something different upon each listen. Deeper still there are some wonderfully crafted poetry, presented with pinpoint accurate vocals.
This album is a masterpiece created by an extraordinarily talented genius! Which raises the big question, how did it go unnoticed when it came out? Every song on offer is of immense quality to the point where if there are any flaws in the album I’m yet to hear them. If you like folk style music then to not listen to the work of Nick Drake would be to deprive yourself of some of the greatest music ever made!
The album is likely to blow you away from the beginning with the timeless classic “Time has told me.” The soft yet powerful piano and acoustic guitar playing works as a solid soundtrack to Nick’s carefully crafted lyrics and effective vocal delivery. ‘River Man’ is a darker, more atmospheric piece backed with string work that is emotionally moving. ‘Three hours’ is led with phenomenal guitar playing where Nick hits notes which many wouldn’t know how to and others didn’t even know existed. Words alone cannot do justice to the amazing sounds he is able to come up with, needless to say it will leave the listener in awe and amazement. ‘Way to blue’ is a breathtakingly melon collie and beautiful masterpiece backed with solid violin work. ‘Day is done’ produces a vibe that will give the listener the feeling as if the sun is setting and daylight is fading. ‘Cello song’ has a very fast guitar sound creating a strong rushing feel. ‘Man in a shed’ is a slight contrast to the rest of the album with a jazzed up and bright vibe. The album closes with the piano driven ‘Saturday Sun.’
This is an album with many layers. On the surface it is a collection of beautiful folk tunes. Going deeper it also shows some astounding instrumentation that is noting short of musical genius, and also has many layers within itself which will give listeners new and old something different upon each listen. Deeper still there are some wonderfully crafted poetry, presented with pinpoint accurate vocals.
This album is a masterpiece created by an extraordinarily talented genius! Which raises the big question, how did it go unnoticed when it came out? Every song on offer is of immense quality to the point where if there are any flaws in the album I’m yet to hear them. If you like folk style music then to not listen to the work of Nick Drake would be to deprive yourself of some of the greatest music ever made!
The album's title mentions the words that appeared in some packs of cigarette papers: a ticket inserted before the final papers warned, "five leaves left". The most common meaning of "leaves" (tree leaves) suggests a poetic autumn, a metaphor for a situation "winding down".
More generally, the lyrics of the entire album reveal the nature shy and melancholy of the author, who will remain a constant throughout his work. The lyrics of Fruit Tree in particular seems to contain a harbinger of premature fate author turning to "fruit tree" of the title - which Drake compares the fame and success - he writes, "they will know that you were here when you're gone".
Appear on the album, among others, Richard Thompson, Fairport Convention guitarist, bassist Danny Thompson of Pentangle and pianist Paul Harris. Four tracks on the album are arranged for strings by Robert Kirby, an old friend from college that will collaborate on next album. In the song River Man orchestration is instead entrusted to Harry Robinson, a prolific Scottish composer of music for film, theater and TV.
The album is an absolute masterpiece, listen to it once and you'll understand why.
More generally, the lyrics of the entire album reveal the nature shy and melancholy of the author, who will remain a constant throughout his work. The lyrics of Fruit Tree in particular seems to contain a harbinger of premature fate author turning to "fruit tree" of the title - which Drake compares the fame and success - he writes, "they will know that you were here when you're gone".
Appear on the album, among others, Richard Thompson, Fairport Convention guitarist, bassist Danny Thompson of Pentangle and pianist Paul Harris. Four tracks on the album are arranged for strings by Robert Kirby, an old friend from college that will collaborate on next album. In the song River Man orchestration is instead entrusted to Harry Robinson, a prolific Scottish composer of music for film, theater and TV.
The album is an absolute masterpiece, listen to it once and you'll understand why.