6 / 10
For a man who shied away from playing live shows and only sold a smattering of records in his lifetime, Nick Drake’s folk-blanketed melodies and poetry have influenced truckloads of artists; from Bright Eyes to Super Furry Animals and The Coral. ‘Family Tree’ is a collection of Drake’s earliest cassette-made recordings, a shadowy reminder of his musical talent, overflowing with acoustic chords and stitched together with instrumentals and family compositions. But for those who aren’t already familiar with the three classic albums released before his death, this record may resemble nothing more than a medley of mournful folk songs that will be forever lost in time. In our modern, neon, computerised world you can’t help but feel that these delicate, soulful songs are slightly out of place. And that’s a shame.
Jess Colman
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