US — The Verge
Scott Walker’s The Drift will get under your skin
Devices1 min read
A music review says Scott Walker's 2006 album The Drift is very dark and disturbing. The writer says it is a good fit for spooky season, but not an easy listen.
A dark album for spooky season
The Verge writer Terrence O'Brien reviews The Drift, a 2006 album by singer-songwriter Scott Walker. He puts it in the 'truly terrifying' group of Halloween music, not the fun kind. The songs deal with death, disease, and tragedy, and they describe real events in harsh detail.
Songs about real horror
The album sings about the hanging of Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci, the 9/11 attacks, Walker's stillborn twin brother, and the Srebrenica genocide. The writer says the lyrics are about as dark as an album can get.
Strange, unsettling sound
The music is experimental, so it does not sound like normal pop. Songs stop suddenly, sit in uncomfortable silence, then burst into harsh mechanical noise. Animal sounds, sound effects, and out-of-tune orchestra parts mix with Walker's shaky voice. The writer says the album can be hard to finish in one sitting, but it is rewarding if you stick with it.
Why it matters
The Drift shows that music can be built to disturb listeners, not just to please them. The writer says it makes your skin crawl rather than giving you chills. Fans of horror-style music may find it worth a listen, but it is not for everyone.
Glossary
- The Verge
- A tech and culture news website where the writer works as weekend editor.
- Scott Walker
- A singer-songwriter who made The Drift, an experimental album from 2006.
- Srebrenica genocide
- The 1995 killing of thousands of Bosnian Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces in Srebrenica.