Scott Walker

I just want to remind you, all of you, of the looming presence that Scott Walker has and will have over your life if you listen to his voice. His voice, tremulous as a river, yet totally unique unlike most rivers, cannot be replaced by anyone else's when he passes on. It seems totally disembodied from the rest of his being; even he seems to refer to it as something outside of him, whose will he must submit to.

But all this talk about his voice does harm to the most unique thing about him: his music. Most people know he was involved with The Walker Brothers during the 60's, and many people know of his early solo career as some sort of orchestral pop singer. But over time, his music seems to have both devolved and evolved. Devolved, in that his music now seems to be some sort of bizarre disintegration of the orchestral pop he was once known for; and evolved in that his current style is totally unique, like the next evolution in classical music/the art song.

Here's a tour through Scott Walker's solo career via youtube videos:


Montague Terrace (In Blue) from his first solo album, Scott:



Plastic Palace People from his second solo album, Scott 2



Angels of Ashes from his fourth solo album, Scott 4



...jump forward to 1995...

The Cockfighter off of his eleventh solo album, Tilt



Jesse off of his twelfth solo album, The Drift



If you are interested by this, Jonathan Dean is hosting an artist feature on his music this Sunday on WVFS Tallahassee from 10pm to midnight. You should listen.