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Amazon.co.uk Review
Bryter Layter, the second album from Nick Drake, came in 1970, and while not quite as melancholy as his debut, Five Leaves Left, there are certain brooding qualities that continued to propagate the Nick Drake mystique. Horn, flute and string arrangements lift such songs as "At the Chime of a City Clock" and "Hazy Jane I" and "II" out of the realm of sad, folk-guitar music into something jazzier and lighter, while the beautiful piano and simple guitar of "One of These Things First" laments what could have been without sounding like a song of despair. But two tracks featuring John Cale on various instruments (such as viola and harpsichord) have the dark fragility of "Pink Moon": the lovely "Fly" is a fragile apparition, and "Northern Sky" is a dreamy, brooding plea for long-lasting love. It's definitely not the same mood music as his starker work, but it's still a fine showcase for Nick Drake. --Lorry Fleming
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Its not often you find an album that works perfectly from beginning to end as a complete body. Hearing this for the first time, i was so very concious of the outright 'sensitivity' of the music lyrics & voice- I found it thouroughly engaging. Upon the 2nd & 3rd listen i was gobsmacked at just how beautiful these arrangements were & just how ridiculously talented this person was. Technically-the musicianship is outstanding, acoustic guitars, flute, piano, strings etc.. There is a fairly big orchestration compared to his other 2 albums, the difference being that all of these tracks stand up in their own right. Its an original sound - sort of folky & jazzy at the same time. They set a romantic - reflective mood that is somehow tinged with the slightest bit of sadness- but is ultimately totally uplifting!
Its hard to comprehend someone so young being so developed in his art, 20 - 21 i believe- really! - to be able to articulate his vision & express himself in such a way so as it can be universally experienced; this is what sets him apart from so many.
I cant say that there is a stand out track in particular, with catchy hooks that reel you in- this music doesnt work that way- all i know is that i dont mess around with the 'skip' button at all- but by no means is this just 'background fodder'. The lyrics are beautiful & reflective without being trite or cliched, & reveal a sense of vulnerability & a sense of wonder of himself & the world around him. Its powerful in its understatedness, beautiful & heartfelt. Some may prefer PMoon- a much more sombre minimal affair, withjust Nicks breathy vocals & acoustic guitar- some with a Robert Johnson bluesy feel. Five Leaves has some outstanding tracks but fails to be as consistent as BLayter- my favourite.
If you want a gentle uplifting album to make you reflect the hours away, i cant reccomend this enough. An album i know ill always connect with & for that .. well... its priceless!
Its hard to comprehend someone so young being so developed in his art, 20 - 21 i believe- really! - to be able to articulate his vision & express himself in such a way so as it can be universally experienced; this is what sets him apart from so many.
I cant say that there is a stand out track in particular, with catchy hooks that reel you in- this music doesnt work that way- all i know is that i dont mess around with the 'skip' button at all- but by no means is this just 'background fodder'. The lyrics are beautiful & reflective without being trite or cliched, & reveal a sense of vulnerability & a sense of wonder of himself & the world around him. Its powerful in its understatedness, beautiful & heartfelt. Some may prefer PMoon- a much more sombre minimal affair, withjust Nicks breathy vocals & acoustic guitar- some with a Robert Johnson bluesy feel. Five Leaves has some outstanding tracks but fails to be as consistent as BLayter- my favourite.
If you want a gentle uplifting album to make you reflect the hours away, i cant reccomend this enough. An album i know ill always connect with & for that .. well... its priceless!
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The cinematic instrumental, Introduction, opens this treasure trove of an album, and is followed by Hazey Jane II, a lilting dreamy pop number. At The Chime Of A City Clock has its jazzy moments with lovely sax, while One Of These Things First, with its lively piano, is the closest Drake comes to happiness. The wistful and spacious Hazey Jane I is followed by the title track, an elegant breezy instrumental, and the sublime Fly. This version, with its fuller instrumentation, is my top favorite Nick Drake song, displaying the man at his best in its exquisite spirituality. Poor Boy is a jazzy/R&B song with soulful backing vocals, while John Cale's celeste, piano and organ contributions on Northern Sky make this track a classic. Like two of his collaborators, Richard Thompson and Cale, Nick had his own poetic voice from the beginning, and his legacy is being rediscovered by a new generation of musicians. This album is the perfect entry point to investigate Drake's magic. So many styles, but so coherent. Bryter Layter's variety, sympathetic production and breathtakingly beautiful songs make it my favorite by this gifted artist.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have owned this record for over 30 years and still rate it as one of the most satisfying pieces ever made by anyone, JS Bach included! Northern Sky is achingly beautiful but I can't pick out just one track.
Every time I listen, it is with a sense of occasion. If you don't own it you have a huge, gaping omission in your musical life. No recommendation is too high.
Every time I listen, it is with a sense of occasion. If you don't own it you have a huge, gaping omission in your musical life. No recommendation is too high.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
BRILLIANT AND TIMELESS
THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVOURITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME.IT IS LIKE A WARM BRITISH SUMMER,TIMELESS AND GREAT.A WORK OF GENTLE WHISTFUL MATURITY AND A BONE FIDE CLASSIC. Read more
Published 1 month ago by carac
Bryter Layter Alygator
No use mentioning Nick Drake's back-story. It's a tragic thing, to go through life an unappreciated genius, only to be discovered after your death. Read more
Published 3 months ago by reviewsahoy
John Keats of the early folk scene
Like Keats, Nick Drake died very young and people have always wondered what 'might have been'. The fragile romantic poet/songwriter has long been admired quite rightly as a pioneer... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Martin Williams
Possibly the best druid work ever
Are you feeling the pressure of modern life?
Do you long for someone to love?
Do you feel personally responsible for the world around you? Read more
Do you long for someone to love?
Do you feel personally responsible for the world around you? Read more
Published 10 months ago by M. Davidson
Sorry to be controversial
It is heresey to be critical of Nick Drake's music but having been entranced by Five Leaves Left I found Bryter Later a touch disappointing. Read more
Published 11 months ago by P. N. I. Jeffrey
Bryter than his darker stuff
Like many I am a new convert to Nick, I should have sought his catalogue out much earlier as Im a long time fan of the now also late John Martyn. Read more
Published 21 months ago by B Johnson
Nick Drake's cheeriest album.
This is the second of Nick Drake's albums and although the weakest of the three, it's still blooming good! Read more
Published 21 months ago by MR K J DOWNING
A five star album by all measures.
I came upon the work of Nick Drake by accident, having picked up a copy of this album in Fopp records sat nicely in the bargain basement area. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. M. L. Hawes
GO FOR IT
Discovered Nick |Drake through BBC4 TV celebration concert at the Barbican and just fell in love with the guy ! Read more
Published 23 months ago by Kat
A spell I happily live under
Of the three albums he made in his short life there has always been debate among fans about which is the better, this, or the debut FIVE LEAVES LEFT. Read more
Published on 26 May 2010 by J. A. Harvey
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