Molly Drake was a both a poet and a musician, but was also known for being Nick Drake’s mother. Molly passed away in 1993 at the age of 77, about 19 years after her son, Nick, passed away. Though none of her poetry or music was released during her lifetime, her works have been uncovered and revealed to be very similar to Nick Drake’s haunting style. These recordings were made in the 1950s on a sort of home taping rig. I didn’t listen to Nick Drake until recently, but I really enjoyed the music. I’m quite interested in hearing what’s in store for this album, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Happiness” starts out with some slow, nearly somber piano. Oh wow, the style of singing for Molly is eerily similar to Nick’s, somewhat warm, deeply feeling, and thinly-veiled in despair. Wow, great track, and I’m excited to hear more.
“Little Weaver Bird” almost has a bit of a classical feeling with the piano. The music sounds as it’s taken from an old animated Disney film from the 1950s, though this version doesn’t seem to have a happy ending. Oh wow, for a moment it almost sounds as thought there’s rain in the background. Great track.
“Cuckoo Time” has a sort of sound that reminds me of the very end of winter in the northern hemisphere, except it’s almost as though Drake somehow skips right to the very end of fall. Super sweet track.
“Love Isn’t a Right” has a really interesting piano line that brings about a sort of hazy classical sound reminiscent of the early Beatnik era. Wow, great track.
“Dream Your Dreams” starts out right away with Molly’s vocals and some gentle piano presented in a sort of dark folksy manner that I’m really digging. After hearing some of these songs, I feel that I’ve gained a new perspective on Nick Drake’s music. Super sweet track.
“How Wild the Wind Blows” begins with some sullen vocals and dark piano that continues that despairing classical folk sound nicely. Sweet short tune.
Oh wow, “What Can a Song Do To You” almost takes a somewhat cheerier disposition compared to some of the rest of the tracks, but does so in a style that reminds me a lot of Nick Drake’s vocals that are thinly-veiled in sadness. Wow, great track.
Oh wow, “I Remember” begins with some simple piano that is played with tons of feeling. Drake’s vocals come in as she begins recanting nostalgic stories of some seemingly distant time in the past. Oh wow, Drake seems to bring a continually warmer sound as she looks back at fond memories. Great track.
“A Sound” begins with a warm piano with what sounds to be rain in the background, though I think it’s just the quality of the old recording. Drake plays with such great feel as the playing shifts and sways as her vocals seem to change in mood. Great track.
“Ballad” starts out with some sweet and bright piano, which is soon joined by Drake’s vocals that again have a vaguely haunting feel. Oh wow, the song continues to get gradually more haunting as Drake continues to play. Great track.
“Woods In May” brings about a really interesting classical sound in the piano, and is soon joined by some really sweet vocals from Drake that again bring a somewhat haunting sound. Great tune.
“Night Is My Friend” almost takes on a sort of feeling that reminds me of classical folksy performances from Nina Simone where she’s only accompanied by a piano with a sort of dark message in Drake’s preference for nighttime. Great tune.
“Fine Summer Morning” has a somewhat cheery disposition compared to most of the album, as though some sunlight has made it through the slits in the blinds to brighten up the room Drake is playing in. Super sweet track.
“Set Me Free” seems to return to the darkness with the darker and lower pitch in Molly’s piano playing and vocals. Super sweet tune.
“Breakfast At Bradenham Woods” has a somewhat brighter quality from Drake’s vocals, with a cool crispness reminiscent of snow-covered wintry morning in the countryside. Wow, super sweet track.
“Never Pine For the Old Love” begins with some really sweet piano that seems to mix with Drake’s vocals to produce a sort of fondness. I’m vaguely reminded of Diane Cluck in this track with the classical folksy style that sounds as though Drake recorded this song in a cabin in the woods near a river in the English countryside. Wow, super sweet track.
“Poor Mum” begins with some super sweet piano that put me further on edge of my chair, and Drake begins singing a story that seem to fit with the passing of her son nearly 20 years before she did, though this was recorded long before that happened. Great track.
“Do You Ever Remember?” brings in some darker sounding piano and continues with Drake’s mixture of folksy and classical flavors in her vocals and lyrics that have been present throughout the album. Super sweet tune.
“The First Day” seems to have a cheerier sound compared to the rest of the album, as though Drake is singing with a newfound optimism. Oh wow, the piano and vocals are seemingly infused with a different energy in this track that reflects that optimism. Great track, and a great way to finish the album.
Wow, I’m very glad to have listened to this album tonight. Molly Drake plays piano and sings with a dynamic sound that seems to reflect her changing emotions throughout the different songs. I’m tempted to go back and listen to Nick Drake’s Pink Moon (1972), as Nick’s style seems to have been influenced much by his mother’s playing. If you’re into Nick Drake, or you think you might enjoy original songs in the form of dark folksy classical piano and vocals, then you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A