{{about|the Scott Walker album|the New York City-based literary magazine|The Drift (magazine)| other uses}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox album | name = The Drift | type = Studio | artist = Scott Walker | cover = Scott Walker - The Drift.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|2006|05|08|df=yes}} | recorded = June 2004&nbsp;– November 2005 | venue = | studio = Metropolis Studios, Chiswick, London, and AIR Studios, Hampstead, London | genre = {{hlist|Avant-garde<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.avclub.com/navigating-the-diverse-difficult-musical-career-of-sco-1798235081|title= Navigating the diverse, difficult musical career of Scott Walker|last= Murray|first= Noel|date= December 6, 2012|website= The A.V. Club|access-date= August 13, 2018|quote= As for fans of the intense avant-garde exercises of Tilt and The Drift...}}</ref><ref name="Stanley 2024">{{cite book|title= The Story of the Bee Gees - Children of the World|first=Bob|last=Stanley|date=6 February 2024 |chapter= Where We Came In|page= 333|publisher=Pegasus Books|location= New York City|isbn=9781639365531 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9uigEAAAQBAJ&source=gbs_book_other_versions_r&cad=1|access-date=1 March 2026}}</ref>|experimental<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/mar/05/10-of-the-best-scott-walker|title= 10 of the best: Scott Walker|last= Dennis|first= Jon|date= March 5, 2014|website= The Guardian|access-date= August 13, 2018|quote= Tilt (1995), the first of his trilogy of experimental albums}}</ref>|gothic rock<ref>Frank Deserto. October 31, 2017. [https://www.post-punk.com/40-years-of-goth-essential-albums-from-the-genres-beginnings/ 40 Years of Goth: Essential Albums from the Genre's Beginnings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174259/https://www.post-punk.com/40-years-of-goth-essential-albums-from-the-genres-beginnings/}}. Post-Punk.com.</ref>}} | length = {{Duration|m=68|s=48}} | label = 4AD | producer = Scott Walker, Peter Walsh | prev_title = 5 Easy Pieces | prev_year = 2003 | next_title = And Who Shall Go to the Ball? And What Shall Go to the Ball? | next_year = 2007 }} '''''The Drift''''' is the thirteenth solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Scott Walker, released on 8 May 2006 on 4AD. Apart from composing the soundtrack to the film ''Pola X'', the album was Walker's first studio album in eleven years and only his third studio album since the final disbanding of The Walker Brothers in 1978. Walker composed the songs for the album slowly over the decade after the release of 1995's ''Tilt'',<ref name="The Rhymes of Goodbye1">{{cite book | first= Lewis | last= Williams | year= 2006 | title= Scott Walker - The Rhymes of Goodbye | edition= 1st | publisher= Plexus | location= London | isbn= 0-85965-395-1 | page= 179}}</ref> beginning with "Cue" (the longest song to complete), up until the album's recording. An early version of "Psoriatic" was premiered at the Meltdown festival on 17 June 2000 under the title "Thimble Rigging".

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. Receiving positive reviews from critics before its release, the album was released as an LP and CD in May 2006. The artwork for the album was designed by Vaughan Oliver at v23 with assistance from Chris Bigg and photography by Marc Atkins.

==Overview== Walker's first album composed entirely of new material since 1995's ''Tilt'', ''The Drift'' forms the second installment of what Walker later called "kind of a trilogy" that concluded with 2012's ''Bish Bosch.''<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/23/scott-walker-interview |title=Scott Walker: Brother beyond |first=Simon |last=Hattenstone |date=23 November 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=16 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117035932/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/23/scott-walker-interview |archive-date=17 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGEdGg92p84&ab_channel=MorbidsoSorbid|title=Scott Walker Radio Interview for World Cafe 2013|website=YouTube }}</ref> In the years between ''Tilt'' and ''The Drift'', Walker's released output comprised a few instrumental tracks on the soundtrack to the film ''Pola X'', a cover of Bob Dylan's "I Threw It All Away" on the ''To Have and to Hold'' soundtrack, and "Only Myself to Blame" from ''The World Is Not Enough'' soundtrack, as well as a few compilations of previously released material, including the retrospective box set ''5 Easy Pieces''.

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

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, Elvis Presley and his stillborn twin brother Jesse Garon Presley, the death and subsequent public hanging of Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci, and the Srebrenica massacre.<ref name='nymag'>{{cite magazine |url=http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/reviews/16844/ |title=Elvis Dreams of 9/11 |first=Ben |last=Williams |magazine=New York |year=2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913065653/http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/reviews/16844/ |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name='wiremay2006'>{{cite journal |title=Interview with Scott Walker |journal=The Wire |date=May 2006 |first=Rob |last=Young |issue=267 |pages=24–29 }}</ref>

In a bonus interview for the documentary ''Scott Walker: 30 Century Man,'' Walker states the album has commonalities with conceptual art as well as poetry.<ref>{{Citation |title=Scott Walker Interview (1 of 2) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCtg1APFI1c |access-date=2024-02-10 |language=en}}</ref>

{{Music ratings |MC=85/100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-drift/scott-walker|title=The Drift by Scott Walker|via=www.metacritic.com}}</ref> |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-drift-mw0000408877|title=The Drift - Scott Walker &#124; Songs, Reviews, Credits &#124; AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Alternative Press'' |rev2score = 5/5<ref>''Alternative Press'' July 2006 issue, page 210</ref> |rev4 = ''The Guardian'' |rev4score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/may/05/popandrock.shopping4|title=CD: Scott Walker, The Drift|date=May 5, 2006|website=the Guardian}}</ref> |rev5 = ''The Independent'' |rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/article361936.ece |title=Independent Online Edition > Reviews |website=enjoyment.independent.co.uk |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060514153150/http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/music/reviews/article361936.ece |archive-date=14 May 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |rev6 = ''Mojo'' |rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>Page 102, Issue #151</ref> |rev7 = ''MusicOMH'' |rev7score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/scott-walker-the-drift|title = Scott Walker - the Drift &#124; Album Reviews|date = 7 May 2006}}</ref> |rev9 = ''The Observer'' |rev9score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/apr/23/10|title=Scott Walker, The Drift|author=Guardian Staff|date=April 23, 2006|website=the Guardian}}</ref> |rev10 = ''Pitchfork'' |rev10score = 9.0/10<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23262/Scott_Walker_The_Drift|title=Scott Walker: The Drift: Pitchfork Record Review|date=January 19, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070119131229/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/23262/Scott_Walker_The_Drift|archive-date=2007-01-19}}</ref> |rev11 = ''Playlouder'' |rev11score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playlouder.com/review/+the-drift-0/|title=PLAYLOUDER &#124; review - The Drift|date=May 20, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060520193958/http://www.playlouder.com/review/+the-drift-0/|archive-date=2006-05-20}}</ref> |rev13 = ''The Times'' |rev13score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-tls.co.uk/|title=TLS - Times Literary Supplement|website=TLS}}</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->

==Track listing== {{track listing | all_writing = Scott Walker, except "Psoriatic" (Scott Walker/Bob Carleton) | title1 = Cossacks Are | length1 = 4:32 | title2 = Clara | length2 = 12:43 | title3 = Jesse | length3 = 6:28 | title4 = Jolson and Jones | length4 = 7:45 | title5 = Cue | length5 = 10:27 | title6 = Hand Me Ups | length6 = 5:49 | title7 = Buzzers | length7 = 6:39 | title8 = Psoriatic | length8 = 5:51 | title9 = The Escape | length9 = 5:18 | title10 = A Lover Loves | length10 = 3:11 }}

== Personnel == * Scott Walker – vocals, guitar, harmonica, saxophone, sound treatment * Hugh Burns – guitar * Ian Thomas – drums * Mark Warman – keyboards, orchestration, conducting, percussion, woodwinds, sound treatment * Philip Sheppard – orchestration, conducting, cello * Alasdair Malloy – percussion, drums * John Giblin – bass * Steve Pearce – bass * Peter Walsh – sound treatment, sitar guitar, percussion * Andrew Cronshaw – woodwinds, concertina * James Stevenson – guitar * Brian Gascoigne – keyboards, sound treatment * Thomas Bowes – violin * Vanessa Contenay-Quinones – vocals * Beverly Foster – voice * Pete Long – saxophone * Rohan Onraet – percussion * Lucy Painter – vocals * Rebecca Painter – vocals * Ralph Warman – vocals * Derek Watkins – flugelhorn

{| cellspacing="5" cellpadding="2" style="background:#f9f9f9; font-size:90%; border:1px solid #aaa;" |- ! align="right" | Session 1 ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Violin I'' ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Violin II'' ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Cello'' ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Bass'' |- | | Janice Graham<br />Paul Willey | Steve Morris<br />Simon Smith | Alistair Blayden<br />Nick Roberts | Neil Tarlton<br />Chris West |- | | Julian Tear<br />Ofer Falk | Deborah Widdup<br />Alison Kelly | Jane Fenton<br />Andrew Fuller | Matthew Corman<br />Clare Tyack |- | | Sophie Barber<br />Ben Buckton | Clive Dobbins<br />Amanda Smith | John Tunnell<br />Tamsy Kaner | Roger Linley<br />Diane Clark |- | | Clare Hoffman<br />Elizabeth Wexler | Ulrike Kipp<br />Jo Godden | Judith Herbert<br />Jackie Phillips |- | | Karen Leishman<br />Matthew Scrivener | Ruth Funnell<br />Sue Briscoe | Robert Max<br />Roberto Sorrentino |}

{| cellspacing="5" cellpadding="2" style="background:#f9f9f9; font-size:90%; border:1px solid #aaa; border-top-width:0;" |- ! align="right" | Session 2 ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Violin I'' ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Violin II'' ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Cello'' ! style="width:9em; text-align:left;" |''Bass'' |- | | Michael Davis<br />Paul Willey | Steve Morris<br />Simon Smith | Alistair Blayden<br />Nick Roberts | Neil Tarlton<br />Chris West |- | | Julian Tear<br />Ofer Falk | Deborah Widdup<br />Alison Kelly | Jane Fenton<br />Andrew Fuller | Matthew Corman<br />Clare Tyack |- | | Sophie Barber<br />Ben Buckton | Clive Dobbins<br />Amanda Smith | John Tunnell<br />Tamsy Kaner | Roger Linley<br />Diane Clark |- | | Clare Hoffman<br />Elizabeth Wexler | Ulrike Kipp<br />Jo Godden | Judith Herbert<br />Jackie Phillips |- | | Ralph De Souza<br />Robert Salter | Charles Sewart<br />Celia Sheen | Jonathan Williams<br />Joely Koos |}

==Production== *Produced by Scott Walker & Peter Walsh *Engineers: Geoff Foster, Peter Walsh *Mixing: Peter Walsh

==Release history== {|class="wikitable" |- ! Region ! Date ! Label ! Format ! Catalogue |- |rowspan=2| United Kingdom |rowspan=2| {{dts|format=dmy|2006|5|8}} |rowspan=2| 4AD | <span style="display:none">LP</span>2×LP | CAD 2603 |- | CD | CAD 2603 CD |- | United States | {{dts|format=dmy|2006|6|6}} | 4AD | CD | |- | Japan | {{dts|format=dmy|2006|6|24}} | Hostess | CD | HSE-20015 |}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable" ! Chart || Position |- |Belgian Albums Chart<ref name=beligancharts>{{cite web |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/album/86ba/Scott-Walker-The-Drift | title=Scott Walker - The Drift |website=ultratop.be |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=25 February 2010}}</ref> |align=center| 49 |- |German Albums Chart<ref name=charts-surfer>{{cite web |url=http://www.charts-surfer.de |title=UK, German and French charts |website=Charts Surfer | access-date=12 February 2009}}</ref> |align=center| 97 |- |Irish Albums Chart |align=center| 80 |- |UK Albums Chart<ref name=chartstats>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ | title=Scott Walker| website=Official Charts Company | access-date=12 February 2009}}</ref> |align=center| 51 |- |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{MusicBrainz release group|id=f9d59d04-c77b-3c53-aaf4-c6ae912da69e|name=The Drift}} *[http://www.4ad.com/releases/the-drift-4/ ''The Drift''] at the official 4AD site. Also [https://web.archive.org/web/20060820041609/http://www.4ad.com/scottwalker/video/jesse-file/ "Jesse" video] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060331171753/http://www.4ad.com/scottwalker/news/~new-album-the-dr/ Album completion announcement] at the official 4AD site. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060405013616/http://imomus.livejournal.com/185356.html "Horrorpop!"] - Momus writes about ''The Drift''. *[http://www.paristransatlantic.com/magazine/monthly2006/07jul_text.html#4 Dan Warburton on ''The Drift'']

{{Scott Walker}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Drift, The}} Category:2006 albums Category:4AD albums Category:Cultural depictions of Benito Mussolini Category:Scott Walker (singer) albums Category:Albums produced by Peter Walsh Category:Albums recorded at AIR Studios