The Drift

Infobox Album | Name = The Drift
Type = Album
Artist = Scott Walker


Released = 8 May 2006
Recorded = June 2004 – November 2005
Genre = Art rock Avant-garde Experimental
Length = 68:48
Label = 4AD CAD 2603 (12", UK, 8 May 2006) CAD 2603 CD (CD, UK, 8 May 2006)
Producer = Scott Walker, Peter Walsh
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0rkvikpfbb69 link]
*Brainwashed (favourable) [http://brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4884&Itemid=64 3 May 06]
*"Cluas" (6.5/10) [http://www.cluas.com/music/albums/scott-walker-drift.htm link]
*"Telegraph" (favourable) [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?&xml=/arts/2006/05/06/bmpopcd06.xml&page=3#sc 6 May 06]
*"The Guardian" rating|5|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,1767506,00.html 5 May 06]
*"The Independent" rating|3|5 [http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/article361936.ece 5 May 06]
*"Mojo" rating|4|5 p.102, #151
*musicOMH.com rating|5|5 [http://www.musicomh.com/albums5/scott-walker_0506.htm May 2006]
*"New York Magazine" (favourable) [http://newyorkmetro.com/nymag/critics/pop/16844/index.html 8 May 06]
*"The Observer" rating|5|5 [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,,1756929,00.html 23 Apr 06]
*Pitchfork rating-10|9 [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23262/Scott_Walker_The_Drift 9 May 06]
*PlayLouder rating|4.5|5 [http://www.playlouder.com/review/+the-drift-0/ 15 May 06]
*PopMatters rating-10|9 [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/scott_walker_the_drift/ 10 May 06]
*Stylus Magazine (B-) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/scott-walker/the-drift.htm 9 May 06]
*"The Times" rating|3|5 [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14932-2161053,00.html 6 May 06]
*Tiny Mix Tapes rating|2.5|5 [http://www.tinymixtapes.com/spip.php?article2529 15 May 06]
*"Uncut" (favourable) [http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/uncut/reviews/8759 10 May 06]
*Yahoo! Music Rating|8|10 [http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/060515/33/208o2.html 15 May 06] |Last album = "5 Easy Pieces" (2003)
This album = "The Drift" (2006)
Next album =

"The Drift" is a critically acclaimed album from singer-songwriter Scott Walker, released on the 4AD label in May 2006. It has been cited by many critics and fans alike as a disturbing and complex album that departs from Scott Walker's previous albums while still remaining true to his experimental roots.

The Drift is Walker's first album composed entirely of new material since 1995's "Tilt". In the interim, Walker's released output comprised a few instrumental tracks on the soundtrack to the film "Pola X" and a track on the soundtrack to the James Bond film "The World Is Not Enough", as well as a few compilations of previously released material, including the retrospective box set "5 Easy Pieces".

The sound and subject matter for the album is unrelentingly dark and unsettling, often juxtaposing quiet sections with sudden loud noise to induce discomfort in the listener. Subjects include torture, disease, 9/11, and numerous subjects in keeping with the horror genre.

The album was recorded over a period of 17 months at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, London, with orchestra recorded in one day at George Martin's AIR Studios in Hampstead, London.

French singer Vanessa Contenay-Quinones appears as the voice of Clara Petacci on "Clara".

Track listing

All tracks composed by Scott Walker

#"Cossacks Are" – 4:32
#"Clara" – 12:43
#"Jesse" – 6:28
#"Jolson and Jones" – 7:45
#"Cue" – 10:27
#"Hand Me Ups" (sometimes mistaken as "Audience") – 5:49
#"Buzzers" – 6:39
#"Psoriatic" – 5:51
#"The Escape" – 5:18
#"A Lover Loves" – 3:11

Personnel

* Thomas Bowes - Violin
* Hugh Burns - Guitar
* Vanessa Contenay Quinones - Voice on "Clara"
* Andrew Cronshaw - Woodwind, Concertina
* Beverly Foster - Voice
* Brian Gascoigne - Keyboards, Sound Treatment
* John Giblin - Bass
* Pete Long - Sax
* Alasdair Malloy - Percussion, Drums
* Rohan Onraet - Percussion
* Lucy Painter - Vocals
* Rebecca Painter - Vocals
* Tim Painter - Percussion
* Steve Pearce - Bass
* Philip Sheppard - Orchestration, Conducting, Cello
* James Stevenson - Guitar
* Ian Thomas - Drums
* Scott Walker - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Sax, Sound Treatment
* Peter Walsh - Sound Treatment, Sitar, Percussion
* Mark Warman - Keyboards, Orchestration, Conducting, Percussion, Woodwind, Sound Treatment
* Ralph Warman - Vocals
* Derek Watkins - Flugelhorn

Strings

External links

* [http://the-drift.net "The Drift" microsite] - features lyrics, essay, photographs, timeline, "Jesse" video and desktop wallpapers
*MusicBrainz album|id=65cfba88-743b-4466-a3ed-d18e44ad99e0|name =The Drift
* [http://www.4ad.com/releases/the-drift-4/ "The Drift"] at the official 4AD site. Also [http://www.4ad.com/scottwalker/video/jesse-file/ "Jesse" video]
* [http://www.4ad.com/scottwalker/news/~new-album-the-dr/ Album completion announcement] at the official 4AD site.
* [http://imomus.livejournal.com/185356.html "Horrorpop!"] - Momus writes about "The Drift".
* [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/track_review/31128 "Cossacks Are" review] at Pitchfork Media (7 April 2006).
* [http://www.paristransatlantic.com/magazine/monthly2006/07jul_text.html#4 Dan Warburton on "The Drift"]