Released 40 years ago
Time of No Reply
Nick Drake · 1986
43 min · 14 tracks · folk music
A haunting collection of melancholic folk tunes that blend introspective lyrics with delicate instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Was Made to Love Magic — This track stands out for its lush orchestration and evocative lyrics, illustrating Drake's ability to blend melancholy with beauty. It encapsulates the ethereal quality that defines much of his work.
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Black Eyed Dog — The song delivers an intense emotional depth, addressing themes of despair and isolation through stark imagery and haunting melodies. Its raw honesty resonates deeply within the context of Drake's life.
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Clothes of Sand — With its gentle melody and reflective lyrics, this track captures the essence of longing and loss, showcasing Drake's poetic lyricism. It exemplifies the quiet power found throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album highlights Nick Drake's haunting melodies and introspective lyrics, solidifying his posthumous influence.
What we noticed
- Each song typically employs fingerpicked guitar patterns accompanied by Drake's soft, introspective vocals.
- Several tracks utilize sparse instrumentation, allowing the emotional weight of the lyrics to take center stage.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- haunting melodies for quiet moments
- introspective reflections on solitude
- delicate instrumentation for deep listening
- short tracks for contemplation
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat, lively tunes
- prefer long, energetic albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1986, Time of No Reply is a posthumous compilation that showcases Nick Drake's unreleased tracks and early recordings. By this time, Drake had already passed away in 1974, leaving behind a limited but profoundly influential body of work. This album brought renewed attention to his artistry, reflecting on his legacy as an enigmatic figure in the folk genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Vashti Bunyan· John Martyn· Sandy Denny
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Time of No Reply 2:47
- 2 I Was Made to Love Magic 3:28
- 3 Joey 3:06
- 4 Clothes of Sand 2:32
- 5 Man in a Shed 3:06
- 6 Mayfair 2:33
- 7 Fly 3:37
- 8 The Thoughts of Mary Jane 3:46
- 9 Been Smoking Too Long 2:17
- 10 Strange Meeting II 3:38
- 11 Rider on the Wheel 2:33
- 12 Black Eyed Dog 3:28
- 13 Hanging on a Star 2:49
- 14 Voice From a Mountain 3:45
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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