April 23, 2015

#3 Nick Drake - One of These Things First

Bryter Layter, released on 01/11/1970, Island

A hugely underrated songwriter during his time, Nick Drake could have been so much more than the hope, regret and uncertainty suggested in this delicate masterpiece.

Over 40 years after his death, ‘One of These Things First’ remains perfectly timeless as part of Drake’s superb middle album of his short-lived seven year career; Bryter Layter.

His soft elongation on ‘I could have been…’ suggests his dampened frustration with his regrets.

The acoustic guitar, piano and short repeated drum beat complement each other perfectly and the instrumental is composed wonderfully to give the riffs some variance but not so much to distract from the peaceful ambience of the song.

The song was perfectly selected by actor and director Zach Braff for his grammy award-winning soundtrack to Garden State in 2004.

Now rightly considered as one of the most influential and talented contemporary folk artists of his generation, the Burma-born Englishman deserves to be digested completely by any true lover of effortlessly beautiful music.

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