Diversions, Vol. 4: The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake [LP]

by The Unthanks

Overview

The fourth installment in the eclectic English folk group's fascinating Diversions series (previous entries have dissected the music and styles of Robert Wyatt and Antony & the Johnsons, working-class marching bands, and England's history of shipbuilding), Diversions, Vol. 4: The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake sees the Unthanks covering a selection of works by the mother of one of British folk's greatest exports, Nick Drake. Molly Drake, who was a huge musical influence on her son, never released any of her home recordings during her lifetime, though an eponymous compilation of her songs and poems was issued in 2013 via Squirrel Thing Records. Like Nick, Molly was a deft weaver of atmosphere, and her words and music lend themselves well to the Unthanks' particular brand of spectral, contemporary English folk music -- much of the poetry and spoken word bits were performed by Molly's daughter Gabrielle. Minimal, yet brimming over with emotions both bright and dulled by pain and loss, the 15-track set is a marvel of restraint and refinement, with Rachel and Becky Unthank's otherworldly voices accompanied only by piano and violin. The songs themselves, which Drake wrote and recorded during the '50s, are very much of their time, postcards of a cautiously hopeful post-war Britain, peppered with nostalgia and open to despair. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/07/2017
Label:	Cadiz / Rabble Rouser Music
UPC:	0844493092810
Rank:	83888

Tracks

1. What Can a Song Do to You?
2. Dream Your Dreams
3. Martha
4. How the Wild Wind Blows
5. Little Weaver Bird
6. Bird in the Blue
7. The Road to the Stars
8. Set Me Free
9. Woods in May
10. I Remember
11. Never Pine for the Old Love
12. The Shell
13. Soft Shelled Crabs
14. Do You Ever Remember?
15. The First Day

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Unthanks   Primary Artist
Rachel Unthank   Voices
Becky Unthank   Voices
Gabrielle Drake   Spoken Word
Niopha Keegan   Viola,Violin,Voices
Adrian McNally   Piano,Voices
Chris Price   Guitar,Voices,Double Bass
Martin Douglas   Cymbals
Faye Maccalman   Clarinet,Sax (Tenor)

Technical Credits

Denis Blackham   Mastering
Cally   Producer
Rachel Unthank   Group Member
Becky Unthank   Group Member
Molly Drake   Composer
Steve Wainwright   Sleeve Design
Niopha Keegan   Group Member
Sarah Mason   Sleeve Photo
Adrian McNally   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Group Member
Chris Price   Group Member
Gavin Bush   Engineer
Nigel John   Cover Photo