Nicola
Bert Jansch · 1967
32 min · 12 tracks · folk rock
Delicate fingerpicking intertwines with introspective lyrics, creating an intimate and haunting atmosphere throughout the album.
Top tracks — play these first
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Go Your Way My Love — This track opens the album with its poignant melody and heartfelt lyrics, establishing the emotional depth that characterizes Jansch’s work.
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Woe Is Love My Dear — A standout track that features Jansch's signature guitar style paired with melancholic reflections on love, capturing the album's lyrical essence.
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Nicola — The title track encapsulates the album’s theme of longing and desire, showcasing Jansch’s ability to weave personal narratives into his music.
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Come Back Baby — This cover brings a bluesy feel to the album while highlighting Jansch's versatility and ability to reinterpret classic songs with his own touch.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Jansch's intricate guitar work and introspective lyrics create a distinct and cohesive folk rock sound.
What we noticed
- The album features intricate fingerpicking guitar patterns that dominate the arrangements, with Jansch's voice weaving through them.
- Several tracks utilize a call-and-response structure between the guitar and vocals, enhancing the conversational quality of the lyrics.
- The last three tracks slow down significantly, creating a reflective mood that contrasts with the more upbeat earlier songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate moments of quiet reflection
- short tracks for quick listens
- heartfelt storytelling in each song
- gentle melodies for afternoon relaxation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy anthems
- prefer longer immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1967, Nicola was Bert Jansch's fourth studio album, following the acclaimed Jack Orion. At this point in his career, Jansch was already recognized as a key figure in the British folk scene, known for his intricate guitar work and poetic songwriting.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Renbourn· Nick Drake· Davey Graham
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Go Your Way My Love 4:23
- 2 Woe Is Love My Dear 2:20
- 3 Nicola 2:52
- 4 Come Back Baby 3:01
- 5 A Little Sweet Sunshine 2:18
- 6 Love Is Teasing 2:08
- 7 Rabbit Run 2:42
- 8 Life Depends on Love 1:48
- 9 Weeping Willow Blues 3:42
- 10 Box of Love 2:05
- 11 Wish My Baby Was Here 1:43
- 12 If the World Isn't There 3:10
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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