New Scott Walker album: 'The Drift'

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I only got into Walker by remembering an old Mojo magazine of my father's with a "best of 1995 albums list" that I had read years before which gave a three line recommendation of Tilt as being "deranged and disturbing"... with the power of filesharing soon it was mine... Its true that even a poorly represented hint of something more substantial could pique the interest of an otherwise uninformed observer...

And to be honest the other thing I weirdly noted whilst watchig the interiew with Walker was how whilst I identify with his music, the man is completely seperate, almost like there's little relation. This is almost certainly as a result of knowing very little about him, and him being basically unwilling to discuss in depth the minutiae of his lyrics. This means that his work is not so contextualised, and leaves more room for your own thoughts... I almost think mystery is a good thing... so the less we hear the better: who wouldn't agree that records wer more "magical" and evocative back in the day whe you couldn't simply google all the information you could ever want about them, or visit their myspace account???

― gek-opel, Friday, 31 March 2006 16:18 (twenty years ago)

its necessarily limited cos thats the way the license fee has crumbled--- popluarism to justify its contnued existence over public service high brow education.

― gek-opel, Friday, 31 March 2006 16:19 (twenty years ago)

That's not necessary though - that's a choice the broadcasters and programme makers have made

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 16:20 (twenty years ago)

xpost - by 'necessarily' i meant: only x amount of minutes per any block of time. perhaps bad word choice, but those are the realities of media we're dealing with today. i still don't think neglecting coverage entirely is an appetizing alternative.

This means that his work is not so contextualised, and leaves more room for your own thoughts...

insanely OTM. my thoughts about his music exactly.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Friday, 31 March 2006 16:21 (twenty years ago)

You can do and say a lot in 9 mins 36 secs - for instance, you might be able to get the name one of his albums right and you might not say Jacques Brel was French

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 16:24 (twenty years ago)

I mean if you want some in depth stuff, then probably Mixing It on R3 will do something or The Wire... but not BBC on prime time, they might pay lip service to it, but music is of such niche interest (ie- 99%of people will hate any given musical artist) that it seems unfair to delve into their work in the depth you are describing (as in it would obviously have consisted mainly of backstory and deal only briefly wih the new album...).

― gek-opel, Friday, 31 March 2006 16:28 (twenty years ago)

Who said in-depth? A ten minute piece on Scott Walker doesn't have to be lazy, sloppy and under-researched does it?

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 16:31 (twenty years ago)

A ten minute piece on Scott Walker, by someone who actually knows who he is would be an improvement, no?

― Dadaismus Is A Very Magic Fellow (Dada), Friday, 31 March 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Yes, and probably one that focussed on just one aspect- interview, potted history, or talking heads wank-fest.

― gek-opel, Friday, 31 March 2006 16:41 (twenty years ago)

No... I hope I didn't sound pedantic Dadaismus. The lyrics of Scott Walker's songs articulate feelings with the audio-visual not the literal. Over-anaylsis kills the mysterioso elements that make the work interesting. But that's not say that the work is not guided by a unifying set of precepts and moral intelligence (which I have outlined in a pevious post). He presents the work as Tableaux, whereby you can immerse yourself in a multiplicity of ways. As if you are looking at 5 different angles of a car crash.

You can choose to follow the " Cue" or not.

I have read more intelligent discussion here than the babble I have witnessed on the Culture show.

― PaulBaran, Friday, 31 March 2006 17:31 (twenty years ago)

someone mentioned the vinyl upthread- any info? if there's any additional stuff I'd wait and get it but if not I would just as soon get the CD.
the 'Jesse' clip sounds great and the cover is beautiful,

― La Monte (La Monte), Friday, 31 March 2006 20:42 (twenty years ago)

I think they were referring to vinyl promos being used to combat the ease of piracy offered by cds....

― gek-opel, Friday, 31 March 2006 21:33 (twenty years ago)

there will be a single-disc vinyl promo version, and a two-LP set for sale.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 31 March 2006 21:39 (twenty years ago)

bonus tracks or anything? (i doubt it, but i just can't bare the tiny possibity i might miss some songs!)

― La Monte (La Monte), Friday, 31 March 2006 22:18 (twenty years ago)

not that i know of, no.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 31 March 2006 22:25 (twenty years ago)

The BBC broadband version available for 1 week...is in a way an extended version... they have edited the tv version and added other footage to it,, where Scott describes how terrified he is of singing,,, and how he fails at it....
Agreed about the presenter.... basic facts wrong! what were they thinking. Muriel Gray's interview was just honestly bad... and she has regretted it ever since.. while Verity Sharpe looked quite pleased with the bad job she did.

Geri

― Geraldine McGuckin (2raggedsoldiers), Friday, 31 March 2006 23:16 (twenty years ago)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZpwhMiFNPcI&search=scott%20walker

― jed_ (jed), Saturday, 1 April 2006 18:54 (twenty years ago)

Finally saw this. I'd have been really curious to know what Scott actually listens to himself.

You'd think it would be an obvious question, and might give some insight as to where he's coming from but . .

(My guess would be Harrison Birtwhistle, but I could be way off.)

― Soukesian, Saturday, 1 April 2006 22:14 (twenty years ago)

Anyone in the UK got the software to convert Macromedia flash and save it ?? The BBC Broadband interview is on Flash.. it will only be available until next Wednesday....it would be great if that could be saved with its extra footage and different camera angles.

Anyone???

Geri

― Geraldine McGuckin (2raggedsoldiers), Sunday, 2 April 2006 10:22 (twenty years ago)

Sousekian- yes to the birtwhistle, seems likely. He's on record as listening to bartok and the like... Quite interested more in what "pop" stuff if any he's listened to of late- eg circa Tilt he referenced NIN and the Prodigy...

― gek-opel, Sunday, 2 April 2006 16:40 (twenty years ago)

I thought Scott 3 was number one when I was born, so how come it only got to number three? Is another cherished illusion about to bite the dust?

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Sunday, 2 April 2006 17:20 (twenty years ago)

So far, my favorite track is "Cue".

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Sunday, 2 April 2006 23:12 (twenty years ago)

so far

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 2 April 2006 23:18 (twenty years ago)

Well, it's track 5, so I'm halfway through the album.

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Sunday, 2 April 2006 23:19 (twenty years ago)

dear holy Penderecki, the strings on 'Cue' are the shit

― Turangalila (Salvador), Sunday, 2 April 2006 23:40 (twenty years ago)

just think, RJG: wait a month, go out and buy it first day not having heard any of it before. slip in on. it'll feel so good!

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 2 April 2006 23:56 (twenty years ago)

: D

― RJG (RJG), Sunday, 2 April 2006 23:59 (twenty years ago)

i don't want to hear it til ~~christmas day~~ May 8th.

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 3 April 2006 00:01 (twenty years ago)

might get it on the 8th and let it sit 'til the weekend

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 3 April 2006 00:07 (twenty years ago)

Well, it's track 5, so I'm halfway through the album.

Certain questions are raised via this observation.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 April 2006 00:13 (twenty years ago)

or why not just wait til christmas?

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 3 April 2006 00:14 (twenty years ago)

I'm also halfway through, at "Cue". It's all very spooky. I like it, it punches you in the face the way all original things should, there's an amazing surprise corner every couple of minutes, the sound of a donkey braying, terrifying! Stuff you've never heard in a "pop song" before. I'd say his only Anglo-Saxon peer is David Sylvian, though there are more parallels in the francophone world. This is rather like early Brigitte Fontaine or late Leo Ferre.

Fuck, another nightmare surprise! A screaming orchestra! It's terrifying!

― Momus (Momus), Monday, 3 April 2006 02:32 (twenty years ago)

>Finally saw this. I'd have been really curious to know what Scott >actually listens to himself.

There was an interview, way back in 95 when TilT was out, where he said he was listening to Nine Inch Nails and PH Harvey at that time.
I think the interview was in WIRE, but I am not sure.

― Julian Kenning, Monday, 3 April 2006 05:38 (twenty years ago)

"Iam worried about this documentary, because it will contain a plethora of stupidity. "

oh really? hm.

― S.K., Monday, 3 April 2006 09:13 (twenty years ago)

do you have more of a goldfrapp saying boring crap like "this is proper music"?

am excited abt it, to see more of scott and in the studio, but not terribly looking forward to people who I don't, necessarily, dislike but saying a lof of v uninsightful stuff, etc

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 3 April 2006 09:18 (twenty years ago)

I don't think all original things should punch you in the face, unless punch you in the face means strike you as original.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 3 April 2006 09:35 (twenty years ago)

Who's saying that they should?

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 3 April 2006 09:35 (twenty years ago)

>I have read more intelligent discussion here than the babble I have witnessed on the Culture show.

Well of course you have. As people keep reiterating, the Culture Show is intended as a topical "sampler" of what's going on across the board in the midbrow arts world. If you want specifics, go elsewhere. Or come here.
As for Scott: yeah, he came across as a witty, approachable fellow. But the new music sounded bloody awful.

― harvey.w (harvey.w), Monday, 3 April 2006 10:18 (twenty years ago)

I'd love to be halfway through the album ;-)

Please share, will buy the original on the day of release.

― Scott fan, Monday, 3 April 2006 10:25 (twenty years ago)

Halfway through might well be amazing but just wait unti you get about four minutes into the penultimate track!
You may well shit your pants.

― Peak Lupe (Peak Lupe), Monday, 3 April 2006 11:23 (twenty years ago)

I like it, it punches you in the face the way all original things should,

-- Momus (nic...) (webmail), Today 4:32 AM. (Momus) (later)

(X-post to Marcello)

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Monday, 3 April 2006 12:16 (twenty years ago)

mmm facepunching... I agree with the Sylvian comparison (if only for Blemish- his othr stuff is a bit too cuddly)... Have all you people got the promo?

― geko-pel, Monday, 3 April 2006 15:08 (twenty years ago)

We're all Scott's mates, this stuff about him being "the world's biggest recluse" is crap.

― Momus (Momus), Monday, 3 April 2006 17:07 (twenty years ago)

the sound of a donkey braying, terrifying

That's actually the tubax, a saxophone the size of a tuba. But yes, fucking amazing sound.

― Turangalila (Salvador), Monday, 3 April 2006 17:54 (twenty years ago)

actually, the tubax is what you hear in "Hands Me Up", that low, skronking, sax-sounding thing. the donkey in "Jolson & Jones" is actually a donkey, gleaned from a sound effects record.

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Monday, 3 April 2006 19:08 (twenty years ago)

Gah.
It sounds disturbing and wonderful. Is he still doing that mix of beatific modern classical beauty and wrenching atonal horror-show?

― gek-opel, Monday, 3 April 2006 19:19 (twenty years ago)

less of the former and more of the latter!

― PeopleFunnyBoy (PeopleFunnyBoy), Monday, 3 April 2006 19:26 (twenty years ago)

Hmm... any of the dali-guitarmelt-rock of tilt (the track itself)?
Or more along the 6am fear vibe of the ute lemper material released a few years back?

― gek-opel, Monday, 3 April 2006 19:34 (twenty years ago)

There's nothing here I would call "rock". There are twangy guitars and drums, and perhaps the first track "Cossacks" comes closest when it puts them together... But the grammar is just not rock's grammar.

― Momus (Momus), Monday, 3 April 2006 19:40 (twenty years ago)

nice to hear he got Donald Duck recording again!

― rizzx (Rizz), Monday, 3 April 2006 19:41 (twenty years ago)

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