''The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake'' is an album by

English folk The folk music of England is a tradition-based music which has existed since the later medieval period. It is often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music. Folk music traditionally was preserved and passed on orally wit ...

group

the Unthanks The Unthanks (until 2009 called Rachel Unthank and the Winterset) are an English folk group known for their eclectic approach in combining traditional English folk, particularly Northumbrian folk music, with other musical genres."They may call ...

. It was pre-released on the band's website in April 2017, prior to its official release on 26 May 2017, and received a five-starred review in ''The Independent''. It contains recordings of songs and poems written by

Molly Drake Mary Drake (born Mary Lloyd); 5 November 1915 – 4 June 1993), also known as Molly Drake, was an English poet and musician, best known as the mother of the actress Gabrielle Drake and the musician Nick Drake. Molly Drake never released any of ...

, the mother of

Nick Drake Nicholas Rodney Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter known for his acoustic guitar-based songs. He did not find a wide audience during his lifetime, but his work gradually achieved wider notice and recognit ...

, and recitations of Molly's poems by her daughter

Gabrielle Drake Gabrielle Drake (born 30 March 1944) is a British actress. She appeared in the 1970s in television series '' The Brothers'' and ''UFO''. In the early 1970s she appeared in several erotic roles on screen. She later took parts in soap operas ''Cr ...

. An album of further poems and songs, ''The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake: Extras'', was released simultaneously. Both albums are designated Vol. 4 in the Unthanks' Diversions series and follow on from Vol. 1 (''

The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons ''The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & the Johnsons'', the fifth album by English folk group the Unthanks and the first to be recorded live, was released on 28 November 2011. Its extended title is: ''Diversions Vol. 1: The Songs of Robert ...

''), released in November 2011, Vol. 2 (''

The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band ''The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band'', the sixth album by English folk group the Unthanks, was released on 30 July 2012. Its extended title is: ''Diversions, Vol. 2: The Unthanks with Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band''. Reco ...

)'', released in July 2012 and Vol. 3 (''

Songs from the Shipyards ''Songs from the Shipyards'', the seventh album by English folk group The Unthanks, was released on 5 November 2012. The album is designated Vol. 3 in The Unthanks' ''Diversions'' series and follows on from Vol. 1 ('' The Songs of Robert Wyat ...

''), released in November 2012.

Reception

''The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake'' received a five-starred review in ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

''. Reviewer Andy Gill said: "Adrian McNally’s subtle arrangements draw the maximum impact from Rachel and Becky Unthanks’ distinctive intonations... the most moving piece here is surely 'I Remember', an account of a crumbling relationship aching with regret." However, David Honigman in the ''

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nik ...

'' was less complimentary. In a three-starred review he said: "Not every song is weighty enough to carry the full force of the sisters’ singing, and some of the dappled pastoral feels like outtakes from Virginia Astley’s chamber folk albums". Neil Spencer, in a three-starred review for ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...

'', described Molly Drake’s songs, "often as brooding and melancholic as her son's" as "a natural fit for the Unthanks’ poignant sibling harmonies".

Jude Rogers Jude Rogers (born 1978) is a Welsh journalist, lecturer, arts critic and broadcaster. She is a music critic for ''The Guardian'' and also regularly writes features and articles for ''The Observer'', ''New Statesman'' and women's magazines such a ...

, in a three-starred review for ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'', said: "Fans of the girlish northern voices of sisters Becky and Rachel Unthank, and the soft, shining piano of Adrian McNally, will adore it; others might get lost in the whispery sweetness of Dream Your Dreams and Never Pine for the Old Love, longing for more gravel and grit. When it comes, at the end of the subtly heartbreaking, I Remember, and the sombre Set Me Free, it hits".

Songs

All the songs were written by Molly Drake and – bar two ("Bird in the Blue" and "Soft Shelled Crabs") – had previously been recorded by her.

Track listing

# "What Can a Song Do to You?" (with poem: "Lost Grief") # "Dream Your Dreams" # "Martha" # "How Wild the Wind Blows" # "Little Weaver Bird" # "Bird in the Blue" (with poem: "Lost Blue") # "The Road to the Stars" (with poem: "Warning to Heroes") # "Set Me Free" (with poem: "Escape Me Now") # "Woods In May" # "I Remember" # "Never Pine for the Old Love" # "The Shell" # "Soft Shelled Crabs" # "Do You Ever Remember?" (with poem: "Time") # "The First Day" (with poem: "A Prayer for Love") ''The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake: Extras'' # "Dog on a Wheel" # "Happiness" # "Two Worlds" # "Night Is My Friend" # "Primary Colour" # "Poor Mum" # "Well It Is Finished" # "Love Isn't a Right"

Personnel

– spoken word The Unthanks * Rachel Unthank – voice * Becky Unthank – voice *

Adrian McNally Adrian McNally is a record producer, a composer/songwriter and a musician with English folk group the Unthanks, which he also manages. As well as producing all of the Unthanks' albums he has produced the compilation album ''Harbour of Songs'' for ...

– piano, voice * Chris Price – double bass, guitar, voice * Niopha Keegan – violin, viola, voice Additional musicians *Faye MacCalman – clarinet,

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while th ...

*Martin Douglas – cymbals on "Little Weaver Bird"Album sleeve notes

References

External links