If Nick Drake Came To My House by Mackenzie Crook.

Storm Bert seems to have blown itself out. It is a nice sunny day here now. I was just thinking about going for a walk when the post lady knocked on my door and handed me a parcel. It contained a book If Nick Drake Came To My House by Mackenzie Crook. This was a little bit of a coincidence because it was 50 years ago today that Nick Drake passed away aged only 26 at his parent’s house in Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire. I knew the anniversary was coming up, that was partly the reason I ordered the book, but I didn’t expect it to arrive on the exact day of Nick’s anniversary. My initial reaction on opening the book was disappointment because when I ordered it from Rough Trade, I thought I was ordering a copy signed by Mackenzie. I can’t be bothered with making an issue of it, and all the hassle of sending it back.

I have always liked Nick Drake’s music, ever since 1971 when I think the first song of his I ever heard was One Of These Things First (See video below) on an Island sampler album called El Pea. I know he was a brilliant guitar player and singer-songwriter, but I can’t claim to be the worlds biggest Nick Drake fan. I know some people have to own every song and outtake there is, but I only have two albums, his debut Five Leaves Left, and a compilation called Way To Blue, plus another collection of his songs sung by other artists. I’ve also got a CD of songs by his mother Molly Drake, and you may recall me reviewing a concert of The Unthanks where they performed Molly’s songs. I’ve also read about three biographies of Nick. Undoubtedly my favourite of those is the first one Pink Moon by Gorm Henrik Rasmussen published in Denmark in 1986 and then translated into English by Bent Sorenson.

What finally made me decide to buy this book is because I am a big fan of Mackenzie Crook. I have enjoyed everything I have seen of his work, from his portrayal of Gareth in The Office, to the brilliant Detectorists which he created, and Worzel Gummidge which he also wrote and directed. I knew he was a big music fan and used songs brilliantly in his work. Who can forget The Unthanks song Magpie in The Detectorists? I didn’t know he was a huge Nick Drake fan though until hearing about this book which is a kind of a homage to a children's book which Mackenzie loved as a kid called If Jesus Came To My House by Joan Gale Thomas. As well as being a great actor, writer, and director Mackenzie can also add another string to his bow, which is illustrator. The charming drawings and printing style are very faithful to Joan Gale Thomas’s original artwork. The story is written in very simplistic childlike verses. I think it only took me about 10 minutes to read it all. It is a book that can be enjoyed by children or adults. I did notice one typo error. On page 28 it says Fives Leaves Left instead of Five Leaves Left. Sack the proofreader! That is a minor criticism though. I think this book would make a great Christmas gift for any Nick Drake or Mackenzie Crook fan.

One Of These Things First - Nick Drake

No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens by A Lazarus Soul.

Storm Bert has been battering Britain for the past two days, so I haven’t left the house since Friday. I thought I would pass the time this evening by telling you about my latest CD which arrived a few days ago. It is called No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens by an Irish band A Lazarus Soul. I discovered this group only a couple of weeks ago when Christy Moore covered two of their songs on his latest recording. The band are Anton Hegarty – Bass, Julie Bienvenu – Drums, Joe Chester – Guitars, Keyboards, BVs, String Arrangements, and Briany Brannigan – Vocals. All the songs are written by Briany. The groups name comes from his nickname Lazarus which his mother gave him because of all the childhood illnesses that he overcame. The front and back covers are both associated with St Brigid with a Brigid’s Cross on the front and a Brigeod (small handmade doll) on the back. I think this might be ironic because hanging up a Brigid Cross is supposed to bring you peace, protection, and prosperity, but that doesn’t apply to a lot of the downtrodden people who inhabit Briany’s songs. 

I wish a lyric sheet had been included because I like studying lyrics and have had trouble sometimes understanding what the songs are about. Because of finding the band via Christy I think I was expecting to hear some simple acoustic folk songs. There are elements of that, but I would describe the sound as indie folk-rock. It can get quite heavy at times. The subject matter of the songs shows Briany has a great social conscience, dealing with the problems of people living on the margins of society. The opening track Black Maria begins with an eerie keyboard sound before the ominous sound of drums and bass kick in. A Black Maria is a police van. The song appears to be about the erosion of civil liberties and the right to protest. I did manage to find the lyrics to the second song The Flower I Flung In Her Grave and it shows what a great poetic lyricist Briany is, almost like a nature poet, for instance-, ‘There's a blaze upon the bog, On sphagnum mattresses we lie, Through the dewy dusk we'd roam, where the outlands were our own, We were the catchers of the spark, Blacklisted lovers in the dark, & that swan, a soul in flight, Those dark wings cutting through the night’. 

Sound wise I was reminded of Damien Dempsey, but that is probably due to the Dublin accent. The Dealers is a much gentler sounding song, more like what I was expecting to hear. It tells the story of two market traders Bridie and Jessie who dream of better days. Fuzz fiddle legend Steve Wickham of Waterboys fame adds a great sound to this track and one other with violin and viola.(See video below) Julie’s drums return to the fore on G.I.M which means Garda Information Message which is a green official written warning issued by the Gardaí to let people know of a threat to their life. They have to be delivered by hand, accompanied by a leaflet advising how to take basic security measures. 

New Jewels is a deceptively gentle song, but with tragic lyrics, and I’m not sure what it all means. Wildflowers is a great very rowdy song that reminds me of The Pogues. I’m sure this song must go down a storm when performed live. Diver Walsh and Glass Swans are two poetic songs with such enigmatic words I wouldn’t attempt to explain them. Factory Fada is a lot easier to understand for the likes of me. I think Fada must mean fodder. It’s about people whose destiny is set by the age of eleven. It is the sad story of two friends Francis Fitzgerald and Francis Maguire who suffer at the hands of a sadistic teacher. It begins with a quite folkie sound before descending into a chaotic cacophony. The final track No Flowers gave the album its title. It features a little sample of the late reggae legend Lee Scratch Perry. I have enjoyed listening to this album the last few days. I think I will grow to love it after a few more plays. It took me a few plays to really get into Lankum a few years ago, so I expect the same will apply to A Lazarus Soul. I think they would be very popular if they played Glastonbury next summer.

a lazarus soul - The Dealers