Nick Drake's fantastic debut album. It's no secret that Drake was let down by the lack of commercial success of his music attained early on. Perhaps some of that is due to the help he had on his first record. Aside from the production of Joe Boyd (noted for his work with Fairport Convention and The Incredible String Band), Drake was joined by Fairport Convention's Richard Thompson and Pentangle's Danny Thompson. His friend school friend Robert Kirby would kick off a successful career with the string and wind arrangements he created for Five Leaves Left. Drake would expertly tread the fine line between easy accessibility and maudlin self reflection with his vocal performance. The result was a stunning debut album from one of the greatest folk musicians that Britain has ever produced. After his untimely death, Drake grew to be a true cult figure in the music world. And Five Leaves Left has gone from unknown to nearly essential listening, some 30 years after it was released. This deluxe boxset reissue comes on heavyweight 180 gram vinyl in gatefold sleeve with fully remastered sound sourced from the original Sound Techniques pre-eq'd quarter inch master tape by the album's original engineer, John Wood at Abbey Road Studios. 

• 180g vinyl pressing
• remastered from the original Sound Techniques pre-eq'd quarter inch master tape by the album's original engineer, John Wood at Abbey Road Studios
• reprint of handwritten lyrics to two songs
• replica poster
• gatefold sleeve
• music label: Island Records 2013

reviewed by Michu Meszaros 12/2014