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Nick Drake magic
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by Gareth Dobson
  • Type: Single
  • Release date: 17/05/2004
  • Label: Island
Anybody see anything wrong about a record label releasing the 'first ever single' from a man who's been dead for about 8,000 years? Mmm. Me too.

Magic' is a re-working of an early studio session track for Drake's first album 'Five Leaves Left'. Many inhuman things have been done to it in order to change it but make it sound the way it would have done 35 years ago. It's a little freaky, like that horrid Beatles recreation 'Free As A Bird' (which, at least, involved three of the originial four), but solid stuff nonetheless.

Of course, it's a promotional novelty for a new Nick Drake retrospective, and it probably makes all Drake fans want to burn down Island Records, but pragmatically speaking, if it gets radio play and it makes someone buy 'Five Leaves Left' or 'Bryter Layter', then it will make the world a slightly better place.

If you're not sure whether the man's your cup of tea but have a couple of quid, then this is also worth picking up for the inclusion of 'Northern Sky', a song so beautiful it numbs every nerve in your body.

  • Nick Drake 7 / 10
Words: Gareth Dobson

Nick Drake - Magic

Bejeezus, I almost bit my tongue in half and swallowed the segments for a moment there, when, for one blissful mili-second I really thought Nick Drake had been resurrected and had started to write songs again.

But no, oh o cruel world, don't do this to me again.

Please buy 'Pink Moon'.

''You seemed so frail in the cold of the night, when the armies of emotion come out to fight...''

Nick Drake - Magic

Nick Drake's music is utterly wonderful and enchanting and just perfect.

Nick Drake - Magic

one of the greatest losses music has ever suffered, was nick drake

Re: Nick Drake - Magic

Agreed, although he'd pretty much run his course. Even if he hadn't died, I reckon his musical output would have dried up to almost nothing. I think Jeff Buckley was possibly a greater loss. At least Drake made three stunning records (my favourite of which must be Bryter Later) whereas Buckley left us with only one. Tragic.

Re: Nick Drake - Magic

Hmmm....my second 'y' is missing...

Apologies.