NICK DRAKE
Family Tree
Tsunami/Fontana South
· Drake-o-philes get a chance to hear what Nick was up to before "Five Leaves Left."
Posthumous rarity albums can be tricky. When a beloved artist can no longer produce new material, it’s natural for fans to clamour for more. Usually these unreleased tracks (especially long buried ones) were kept private for a reason, though, making the line between lost treasure and practice session noodling a fine one.
Nick Drake died in 1974 after releasing three studio albums, and while his music was largely obscure during his lifetime, he’s experienced many bumps in popularity over the last 20 years, resulting in more than a few odds ’n’ sods compilations. Family Tree is unique in that it’s a collection of home recordings produced before the release of Drake’s first album. While it doesn’t add a whole lot to Drake’s legacy, it can’t be written off as a complete waste of time.
Many of the 29 tracks on this disc are throw-away song fragments, but there are also plenty of glimpses into Drake’s bubbling genius. The lo-fi sound complements his style and the singer’s frail voice is always a treat to listen to. While there are a few too many boring blues covers on here, Drake’s take on Bob Dylan’s "Tomorrow is a Long Time" is haunting, and his early originals carry a lot of charm. Family Tree doesn’t feature any songs that come close to eclipsing "Pink Moon," but it does offer more than the typical diehards-only beyond-the-grave CD.
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