I think what stands out for me with Nick Drake is his unique finger-picking. What sounds rather sparse and minimal is actually incredibly complex. A few weeks back I wrote about my favorite Drake tune, 'Road' (on the Pink Moon LP: https://michaelfell.substack.com/p/aiming-for-the-heart).
Drake is an artist who is so eloquently beautiful, and at the same time, haunting, melancholic, and totally mesmerizing in his complex yet minimal approach to songwriting. I love all three of his albums (and some of the stuff he never officially released that has since been posthumously released).
Beautifully said. Personally I haven’t deeply analysed Drake’s fingerpicking, although I’m certain you are 100% correct. Agreed, generally speaking, what Drake makes seem simple is oftentimes unbelievable complex. One thing I really marvel at throughout the whole “Pink Moon” album are the subtle changes in rhythm during many of the songs — I have to keep reminding myself that these are all more or less live takes, one pass recordings, with hardly any overdubs and/or repairs, and that the entire album was completed in two days! Truly amazing performances.
It's also an incredibly sad record, as he was at his lowest. The album reflects his darkness, isolated loneliness, and inner demons that were eating him away from the inside out.
Thank you, Nic, for sharing your thoughts on the title track and its tuning. It was a nice article to wake up to. 🙏
I'm glad that you enjoyed this article, Michael, and thank you for sharing your comments and the details of your post — for sure when I get time I will take a look.
Unfortunately mental health issues for artists is nothing new, I've heard Nick Drake described as the English Van Gogh of Music. And there are countless tales of the premature deaths of rising stars (just for example the 'Twenty Seven Club'). Or their burnout and almost total disappearance from public life (just for example, Syd Barrett).
Fortunately, now, the issue is no longer so taboo, and in many cases is being dealt with head-on in the public domain. I'm glad to say that it now seems that the record industry is beginning to be held accountable for the impact that a gruelling and demanding schedule can have on an artist.
Here are some links to a few examples of musicians speaking out publicly about their and others' mental health issues...
Mary Spender — The Dark Side of Ambition, parts 1 and 2
I think what stands out for me with Nick Drake is his unique finger-picking. What sounds rather sparse and minimal is actually incredibly complex. A few weeks back I wrote about my favorite Drake tune, 'Road' (on the Pink Moon LP: https://michaelfell.substack.com/p/aiming-for-the-heart).
Drake is an artist who is so eloquently beautiful, and at the same time, haunting, melancholic, and totally mesmerizing in his complex yet minimal approach to songwriting. I love all three of his albums (and some of the stuff he never officially released that has since been posthumously released).
Beautifully said. Personally I haven’t deeply analysed Drake’s fingerpicking, although I’m certain you are 100% correct. Agreed, generally speaking, what Drake makes seem simple is oftentimes unbelievable complex. One thing I really marvel at throughout the whole “Pink Moon” album are the subtle changes in rhythm during many of the songs — I have to keep reminding myself that these are all more or less live takes, one pass recordings, with hardly any overdubs and/or repairs, and that the entire album was completed in two days! Truly amazing performances.
It's also an incredibly sad record, as he was at his lowest. The album reflects his darkness, isolated loneliness, and inner demons that were eating him away from the inside out.
Thank you, Nic, for sharing your thoughts on the title track and its tuning. It was a nice article to wake up to. 🙏
I'm glad that you enjoyed this article, Michael, and thank you for sharing your comments and the details of your post — for sure when I get time I will take a look.
Unfortunately mental health issues for artists is nothing new, I've heard Nick Drake described as the English Van Gogh of Music. And there are countless tales of the premature deaths of rising stars (just for example the 'Twenty Seven Club'). Or their burnout and almost total disappearance from public life (just for example, Syd Barrett).
Fortunately, now, the issue is no longer so taboo, and in many cases is being dealt with head-on in the public domain. I'm glad to say that it now seems that the record industry is beginning to be held accountable for the impact that a gruelling and demanding schedule can have on an artist.
Here are some links to a few examples of musicians speaking out publicly about their and others' mental health issues...
Mary Spender — The Dark Side of Ambition, parts 1 and 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn2kmnHPgxU&rco=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=587NOg5GADg
Ren Gill — Behind the Song - 'Suic*de'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCm5wghhSd4
Ren's story is quite incredible and he talks about it openly in several of his posts on YouTube. He's brave, strong young man. A fine example.
And this is one very good resource for musicians in the UK, struggling with the inevitable ups and downs of being a musician.
https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk