Bryter Layter

Like Five Leaves Left, the album contains no unaccompanied songs: Drake was accompanied by part of the British folk rock group Fairport Convention and John Cale from The Velvet Underground, as well as Beach Boys musicians Mike Kowalski and Ed Carter.[2] Arranger Robert Kirby claims that Drake intended the instrumentals to evoke Pet Sounds.[3] Initially scheduled for release in November 1970, with UK promotional copies being sent out at the time, dissatisfaction with the artwork meant that the album was held over into the New Year.[1]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Entertainment Weekly	B+[5]
Pitchfork	9.7/10[6]
Q	[7]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[8]

Mojo called the album "Certainly the most polished of his catalogue".[9] Alternative Press called it "[one] of the most beautiful and melancholy albums ever recorded".[10]

David Hepworth described "At the Chime of a City Clock" as "the perfect soundtrack for the dispensing of a cup of tea in a polysytrene cup, marrying sound and image in a way that made me unsure whether I was watching a commercial or actually in a commercial."[11]

Andrew Means of the Melody Maker wrote on 13 March 1971 that "This is a difficult album to come to any firm conclusion on. For one thing the reaction it produced depends very much on the mood of the listener. It's late-night coffee'n'chat music. Them tracks are all very similar - quiet, gentle and relaxing. Nick Drake sends his voice skimming smoothly over the backing."[12]

In 2000, Q placed Bryter Layter at number 23 in its list of the "100 Greatest British Albums Ever". It ranked at number 14 in NME's list of "The Greatest Albums of the '70s".[13]

It was voted number 306 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000).[14]

In 2003, the album was ranked number 245 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

All tracks are written by Nick Drake.

Nick Drake performs vocals and guitar, except where indicated otherwise.

• "Introduction"

  Nick Drake – guitar

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Dave Mattacks – drums

  Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

• "Hazey Jane II"

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Dave Mattacks – drums

  Richard Thompson – lead guitar

  Brass arrangement by Robert Kirby

• "At the Chime of a City Clock"

  Ray Warleigh – alto sax

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Mike Kowalski – drums

  Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

• "One of These Things First"

  Paul Harris – piano

  Ed Carter – bass

  Mike Kowalski – drums

• "Hazey Jane I"

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Dave Mattacks – drums

  Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

• "Bryter Layter"

  Nick Drake – guitar

  Lyn Dobson – flute

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Dave Mattacks – drums

• "Fly"

  John Cale – viola and harpsichord

  Dave Pegg – bass

• "Poor Boy"

  Ray Warleigh – alto sax

  Chris McGregor – piano

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Mike Kowalski – drums

  Pat Arnold and Doris Troy – backing vocals

• "Northern Sky"

  John Cale – celeste, piano and organ

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Mike Kowalski – drums

• "Sunday"

  Nick Drake – guitar

  Ray Warleigh – flute

  Dave Pegg – bass

  Dave Mattacks – drums

  Strings arranged by Robert Kirby

• The cover of the North American version of the 2003 album Akuma no Uta by Japanese metal band Boris pays tribute to Bryter Layter.
• The lyrics to "Fly" were heavily referenced in the 2005 film Zathura: A Space Adventure and the song was featured in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums.
• The song "One of These Things First" was featured on the Grammy award winning Garden State soundtrack, compiled by Zach Braff. The song was also used in the 2008 film Seven Pounds starring Will Smith.
• The song "Northern Sky" was featured in the 2001 film Serendipity, is frequently featured in the NBC This Is Us, and was chosen as a track by Sue Perkins whilst on BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs.[15]

The title is in reference to Queen's English and BBC weather reporters who would describe the weather as "brighter later".

• Album online on Radio3Net a radio channel of Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company
• Bryter Layter at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
• Lyrics