When Nick Drake dropped his debut album Lost in the supermarket - sorry, Five Leaves Left - in July 1969, nobody could have predicted how its quiet magic would ripple through the decades. Fresh-faced and still studying at Cambridge, Drake crafted an introduction that feels entirely unhurried, marking the starting point of a tragically short three-album career. It is an extraordinary record that bypassed the loud, psychedelic trends of the late sixties altogether, opting instead for a private, late-night world that belongs completely to him.

The vibe here is beautifully autumnal and intimate, mixing traditional British folk with subtle jazz textures and chamber-pop arrangements. Rather than relying on standard singer-songwriter strumming, Drake utilises intricate, hypnotic fingerpicking patterns that anchor the music, while his hushed, close-up vocals sound like he is sharing a secret in an empty room. Robert Kirby's elegant string arrangements add an incredible depth, drifting around the acoustic guitar like smoke, while Danny Thompson's warm double bass gives the whole thing a grounded, jazzy swing.

While it is a seamless listen from start to finish, tracks like River Man showcase the album's cinematic beauty, blending a strange 5/4 time signature with haunting orchestration. Then you have the hypnotic groove of Three Hours and the heartbreaking simplicity of Day is Done, which capture that distinct bittersweet melancholy Drake mastered so well. Decades later, Five Leaves Left remains an essential, deeply comforting revisit - a masterclass in mood and atmosphere that never loses its ability to stop you in your tracks.