Nick Drake

Pink Moon - Island 1972

Tracks: 1. Pink Moon / 2. Place To Be / 3. Road / 4. Which Will / 5. Horn / 6. Things Behind The Sun / 7. Know / 8. Parasite / 9. Free Ride / 10. Harvest Breed / 11. From The Morning

Comments:

Pink Moon" was the third and last album that Nick Drake managed to get released in his all too short lifetime. The album differs somewhat from the previous two; first and foremost through the fact that the songs are only accompanied by Drake himself on his acoustic guitar, apart from the title track which has a nice little piano line also played by Drake.

The songs are generally simple and short, and in some cases they may seem a little unfinished, with only one verse and a slightly raw sound on the guitar. Drake's well known and strong songwriting is present on most tracks, and when a first disappointment may have subsided, you will discover several fine songs on a par with Drake's very best.

The title track "Pink Moon" is perhaps the easiest to tune to fall for; a very melodic and catchy song, ywhich you may easily find yourself go humming. A nice variation with the nice piano-part.

There is as of the first two albums a sad undertone to most songs. This applies not least "Place to Be", one of the few songs with longer lyrics. "Road" is a nice little song that could well sound like a Donovan song.

"Which Will" is also a song that wins on closer acquaintance, while "Horn" is a nice little instrumental which showcases Drake's original guitar style. "Things Behind the Sun" is another of the album highlights; a song which seems completely finished, unlike the next track "Know", which in both sound and form appears rather unfinished - a little bluesy thing.

The sad mood get an extra shot with "Parasite" also one of the most memorable songs. "Free Ride" may also appear a little unfinished but still quite charming Another fine Donovan-like song. "Harvest Breed" is a very short little song with just a single verse - it has a fine typical Drake melody.

"From the Morning" is a worthy end to a nice little album which may nevertheless appear somewhat unresolved, and one can easily come to feel that the album could have deserved a little more time in the creation process and maybe a little variation in the arrangements. The cover art, though, is by far the most interesting among Drake's three albums.


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