Tim Buckley
Tim Buckley

THE REVIEW

A nineteen-year-old Tim Buckley made his solo debut way back in 1966, after an experience with the Bohemians alongside future poet Larry Beckett on drums, who accompanies him here in writing the lyrics. His clear voice, capable of multiple octaves, yet tender and ethereal, is the astonishing element of these twelve tracks balanced between the folk typical of those years (from the cover to Tim himself, who never hid the influence of Bob Dylan), psychedelia (especially the heartbreaking interrupted harmony of "Song Slowly Song") and jazz influences hinted at here (see "Valentine Melody"), which would later be developed in future records. The picture is even more astounding when considering that such maturity and emotional and musical complexity belong to a boy barely of age, the author of all the songs. Some lyrics are further emphasized by Beckett's poetic touch, with words pouring from the speakers as magician Tim captures your attention by modulating them, while the tracks alternate between electric, calm, and controlled moments and sometimes form complex mosaics of magical psychedelia, also thanks to the contribution of particularly gifted musicians like Lee Underwood on guitars, who would accompany Tim Buckley in future albums and concerts. At the time, this debut was enough to make everyone understand that the quintessence of a singer-songwriter was hidden in this Washington boy transplanted in the burgeoning California of the era. A voice out of the ordinary, always teetering between fragility, delicacy, yet controlled strength, capable of opening abysses before you and making you soar a moment later. Able to enchant you and make you believe you have him by your side as you listen, kindred spirit, or make you feel infinitely alone. In short, what happens to those who possess the damned flame of art within themselves: and, as scripted, Tim Buckley embodied his role until his untimely death.