Mussolini, 9/11 and genocide haunt Scott Walker’s The Drift, a record that gets under your skin

An album of dark subjects

The Drift is a deeply unsettling record by singer-songwriter Scott Walker. Its lyrics take up death, disease and tragedy, including the hanging of Benito Mussolini and Clara Petacci, the attacks of 9/11, Walker’s stillborn twin brother and the Srebrenica genocide. The album’s subject matter is presented in visceral detail rather than from a distant, abstract viewpoint. Its darkness sets it apart from more playful seasonal music such as “The Monster Mash” and John Carpenter’s “Halloween Theme.”

Sound built to unsettle

The music often feels far from conventional pop. In “Jesse,” seasick guitar gives way to strings that drone over the chorus, while “Clara” opens with a rough, low-bitrate sound.

Across the record, songs may stop abruptly, leave silence, then return with mechanical noise. Animal sounds, foley effects and atonal orchestral passages press against Walker’s distinctive singing.

A difficult but rewarding listen

The Drift can be hard to hear from start to finish, especially for listeners who are not in the right mood. Its sounds are rarely in tune, and the pauses and sudden eruptions keep the music unsettled.

Rather than offering the bodily thrill of beautiful music, the album aims for a more disturbing reaction. Staying with it, however, can bring its own rewards.

Where to hear it

The Drift is available on Bandcamp and major streaming platforms. Those named include YouTube Music, Apple Music, Qobuz, Deezer and Spotify.