The Drift
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The Drift
Studio album by 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
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Brainwashed (favourable) 3 May 06 Cluas (6.5/10) link Telegraph (favourable) 6 May 06 The Guardian 5 May 06 The Independent 5 May 06 Mojo p.102, #151 musicOMH.com May 2006 New York Magazine (favourable) 8 May 06 The Observer 23 Apr 06 Pitchfork 9 May 06 PlayLouder 15 May 06 PopMatters 10 May 06 Stylus Magazine (B-) 9 May 06 The Times 6 May 06 Tiny Mix Tapes 15 May 06 Uncut (favourable) 10 May 06 Yahoo! Music 15 May 06
Scott Walker chronology
5 Easy Pieces (2003) The Drift (2006)

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

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

Influence

Mikael Åkerfeldt of the band Opeth has stated on numerous occasions that this album had a major impact on his writing style, especially when writing for their album Watershed.

Strings

External links

• The Drift microsite - features lyrics, essay, photographs, timeline, "Jesse" video and desktop wallpapers
• The Drift at MusicBrainz
• The Drift at the official 4AD site. Also "Jesse" video
• Album completion announcement at the official 4AD site.
• "Horrorpop!" - Momus writes about The Drift.
• "Cossacks Are" review at Pitchfork Media (7 April 2006).
• Dan Warburton on The Drift