WAY TO THE BLUE: THE SONGS OF NICK DRAKE
Various
(Southbound)
Tribute albums are always bound to be bittersweet affairs.
Anyone who has had an affinity with the artist – in this case English folkie Nick Drake – is likely to be disinterested unless they are zealous completists and those unfamiliar in the first place aren’t likely to care about the re-visitation.
This project carefully put together by Joe Boyd, who produced two of his three solo albums – is actually a worthy memory to a troubled but brilliant songwriter.
It has a whiff of the cash cow about it (there’s a DVD to go with it) but the singers have been handpicked and do include some noteworthy and sympathetic souls such as Robyn Hitchcock (whose slightly creepy rendition of Parasite is more inspiration than reverence.)
All of the performances were recorded live in either London or Melbourne, which is ironic given that one of the things that held back Drake’s career was his unwillingness to play live. Approach with caution.
Ad Feedback
–
