Bryter Layter

Infobox Album | Name = Bryter Layter
Type = Album
Artist = Nick Drake


Released = November 11970
Recorded = Sound Techniques Studio, London
Genre = Folk
Length = 39:09
Label = Island Records
Producer = Joe Boyd
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ezabqj5yojka link]
* The Music Box Rating|4|5 [http://www.musicbox-online.com/nd-pink.html link]
Last album = "Five Leaves Left"
(1969)
This album = "Bryter Layter"
(1970)
Next album = "Pink Moon"
(1972)|

"Bryter Layter", recorded in 1970, was the second of three albums by British folk musician Nick Drake.

Like "Five Leaves Left", the album contains no unaccompanied songs: Drake was accompanied by part of the British folk rock group Fairport Convention and John Cale from The Velvet Underground, as well as Beach Boys musicians Mike Kowalski and Ed Carter.

Reception

In 2000 "Q" magazine placed "Bryter Layter" at number 23 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. Q magazine (1/01, p.95) - Included in Q's "5 Best Re-Issues of 2000".

NME (9/18/93, p.19) - Ranked #14 in NME's list of The Greatest Albums Of The '70s. NME included "One of These Things First" on a CD titled "NME Presents Under the Influence", which included songs by some of most influential musicians and bands in music history [http://www.discogs.com/release/1047592] .

Entertainment Weekly (5/12/00, p.24) - "The exquisiteness of the first album is expanded upon in 'Hazey Jane I', 'Fly' and a genuinely optimistic love song, 'Northern Sky'..." - Rating: B+

Mojo (7/00, p.99) - "Certainly the most polished of his catalog.... [It] begins to suggest a whole other tableau of unexplored possibilities....God, how damn confident it all sounds. He knew how good he was..."

Alternative Press (3/01, p.88) - "With a voice paradoxically feather-light and grave, [one] of the most beautiful and melancholy albums ever recorded."

Track listing

# "Introduction" – 1:33
# "Hazy Jane II" – 3:46
# "At the Chime of a City Clock" – 4:47
# "One of These Things First" – 4:52
# "Hazey Jane I" – 4:31
# "Bryter Layter" – 3:24
# "Fly" – 3:00
# "Poor Boy" – 6:09
# "Northern Sky" – 3:47
# "Sunday" – 3:42

Personnel

Nick Drake performs vocals and guitar, except where indicated otherwise.

*"Introduction"Nick Drake - guitar

Dave Pegg - bass guitar

Dave Mattacks - drums

Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

*"Hazy Jane II"Dave Pegg - bass
Dave Mattacks - drums

Richard Thompson - lead guitar

Brass arrangement by Robert Kirby

*"At the Chime of a City Clock"
Ray Warleigh - alto sax
Dave Pegg - bass

Mike Kowalski - drums
Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

*"One of These Things First"
Paul Harris - piano

Ed Carter - bass
Mike Kowalski - drums

*"Hazey Jane I"Dave Pegg - bass
Dave Mattacks - drums
Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

*"Bryter Layter"Nick Drake - guitar

Lyn Dobson - flute
Dave Pegg - bass
Dave Mattacks - drums

*"Fly"
John Cale - viola and harpsichord
Dave Pegg - bass

*"Poor Boy"Ray Warleigh - alto sax

Chris McGregor - piano
Dave Pegg - bass
Mike Kowalski - drums

Pat Arnold and Doris Troy - backing vocals

*"Northern Sky"John Cale - celeste, piano and organ
Dave Pegg - bass
Mike Kowalski - drums

*"Sunday"Nick Drake - guitar
Ray Warleigh - flute
Dave Pegg - bass
Dave Mattacks - drums
Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

References

The cover of the North American version of the 2003 album "Akuma no Uta" by Japanese Metal band Boris pays tribute to "Bryter Layter".
The lyrics to "Fly" were heavily referenced in the 2005 film "".

External links

*MusicBrainz album|id=0266c5dc-e7d4-49a7-8964-f7e4461f911a|name =Bryter Layter
* [http://www.algonet.se/~iguana/DRAKE/NDbryter.html Lyrics]