Promising debut single, can see this young tunesmith making big waves with his gentle melodies and innocent yet world-weary vocal stylings.

Thirty years after Nick Drake's death, this "new" recording still makes you feel all cosy inside. Even when he sings of heartache there's something so undeniably uplifting in his voice and in the recording that you can't help but feel good. Robert Kirby's new arrangement, based on Drake's own manuscript, owes more to the tone of "Bryter Later" than the "Five Leaves Left" sessions from which the song was taken - this is backed up by the inclusion on the B-side of "Brighten My Northern Skies" from the aforementioned second album - and as a result there's a faintly annoying whiff of flute sneaking into the mix. Nevertheless, the string arrangement is haunting and the lack of a guitar leaves the vocals seeming naked and fragile and all the more affecting for that. Quite beautiful. -Ian Martin, Jun.12.04

Nick Drake