A rare album, and one to treasure.
For many, Nick Drake has come to represent one of the original doomed romantic, tortured genius musicians – achieving only minor success within his lifetime and dying young of an anti-depressant overdose only to become posthumously successful and credited with influencing acts such as The Cure, REM and Kate Bush. 'Family Tree' cuts back to where it all began, bringing together a collection of recordings made in advance of his three studio albums and including tracks performed by his mother Molly and sister Gabrielle as well as solo pieces.
Fans of Mr. Drake will be delighted to hear him speak on tracks such as 'Time Piece', in which he performs a short monologue in time to the accompaniment of a metronome, and at the opening of 'Milk And Honey' when we hear Nick shyly telling the person who is recording him (most likely Robert Kirby, who assisted Nick with his recordings at Cambridge University in 1968) that he "can't think of any other songs to do" and speaking in a silly accent whilst he decides. 'Strange Meeting II' is introduced by Nick as a song he wrote recently, which means "I'm likely to forget the words". At the end of the track he tells us it is his surrealist song.
'Poor Mum' transports one instantly to a time of gramophones and barely suppressed melancholy, Molly Drake's voice carrying it's tune with dignity and a hint of humour. Nick's sister Gabrielle puts in an appearance on the soft and melodic 'All My Trials', her voice providing the yin to Nick's yang and leaving one wishing the sibling-ship had collaborated together more frequently. Closing track 'Do You Ever Remember' is another Molly Drake piece, with a definite vintage quality that proves music was affecting even before digital recording and mixing equipment, and its lyrics, intentionally or not, reminding us that time can take away.
'Cocaine Blues' and 'Been Smoking Too Long' are concerned with Nick's turbulent relationship with drugs although sound carefully put together and considered pieces of music rather than the product of an unravelling mind. 'Cocaine Blues' is a surprisingly upbeat folk song, driven by finger-plucked guitars which hop along in a slight shadow of melancholy. Placebo fans may already be familiar with 'Been Smoking Too Long' thanks to said band's cover version, but the original is far superior; Nick's voice is true and clear, hopeful yet despairing; the song's lyrics the best of this collection.
'Family Tree' is a rare album, and one to treasure. Granted, the sound quality is somewhat fuzzy at times and it isn't full of fast-paced, radio-friendly anthems, but only someone devoid of all emotion could find fault with tracks such as 'Bird Flew By' and 'Winter Is Gone'. Existing fans will relish hearing new material and of course Nick's spoken words – very much a treat given his reclusive and media-shy nature; and new listeners may well also be seduced by his rich voice, imaginative lyrics and exceptional guitar skills.