The fourth installment in the eclectic English folk group's fascinating Diversions series (previous entries have dissected the music and styles of [wimpLink artistId="7142"]Robert Wyatt[/wimpLink] and [wimpLink artistId="4216662"]Antony & the Johnsons[/wimpLink], working-class marching bands, and England's history of shipbuilding), Diversions, Vol. 4: The Songs and Poems of Molly Drake sees the [wimpLink artistId="3642042"]Unthanks[/wimpLink] covering a selection of works by the mother of one of British folk's greatest exports, [wimpLink artistId="32955"]Nick Drake[/wimpLink]. [wimpLink artistId="3682068"]Molly Drake[/wimpLink], who was a huge musical influence on her son, never released any of her home recordings during her lifetime, though an eponymous compilation of her songs and poems was issued in 2013 via Squirrel Thing Records. Like [wimpLink artistId="32955"]Nick[/wimpLink], [wimpLink artistId="3682068"]Molly[/wimpLink] was a deft weaver of atmosphere, and her words and music lend themselves well to the [wimpLink artistId="3642042"]Unthanks[/wimpLink]' particular brand of spectral, contemporary English folk music -- much of the poetry and spoken word bits were performed by [wimpLink artistId="3682068"]Molly[/wimpLink]'s daughter [wimpLink artistId="5978241"]Gabrielle[/wimpLink]. Minimal, yet brimming over with emotions both bright and dulled by pain and loss, the 15-track set is a marvel of restraint and refinement, with [wimpLink artistId="14076193"]Rachel[/wimpLink] and [wimpLink artistId="6160424"]Becky Unthank[/wimpLink]'s otherworldly voices accompanied only by piano and violin. The songs themselves, which [wimpLink artistId="3682068"]Drake[/wimpLink] wrote and recorded during the '50s, are very much of their time, postcards of a cautiously hopeful post-war Britain, peppered with nostalgia and open to despair. [Diversions, Vol. 4 was also released on LP.] ~ James Christopher Monger