It is one of these albums that initially met with little response after the initial publication and only in later years – in this case: according to drake tragic, too early death in 1974 – were recognized as high quality. Five Leaves Left was Nick Drake’s debut, who, in 1969, reluctantly staged Brit folk with a tasteful chamber pop and subtle psychedelic. Anyone who appreciates introspective texts and a tendency -bitterly bitter mood could and can therefore undoubtedly be happy.
Recommendations of the editorial team
However, it is even more gratifying that Five Leaves Left transports sensitive songwriter art typical of the time, without too superficially drifting into sticky contemplative. Certainly the main reason why the album passed the “Test of Time” better than some pastoral folk statement of those late hippie years. A good, intelligent piece of music. The fact that it was an epochal masterpiece, as some critics posthumously claimed, suggested that the ambitious debut work once ignored the ambitious debut.
The first three CDs/LPs of the making-of version offer demo recordings, quite illuminating session outtakes and alternative versions that were created from 1968, the fourth disc contains the original album. The box set is complemented by an illustrated book with knowledgeable comments by drake biographer Richard Morton-Jack.
This review was first published in the MusikExpress 08/2025.