Scott Walker RIP

Scott Walker was unique.

There will be much discussion about his later work, it's difficult and experimental nature, but his work in the 60s was in its own way pioneering. Magnificent baroque pop with the Walker Brothers that still sounds breathtaking to this day. But his solo work set out on a different direction, on a path few others could have travelled.

He was one of the first anglophone artists to recognise the work of Jacques Bre, and while David Bowie is credited with popularising his work, it was Scott who was first. Bowie's versions of My Death and Amsterdam are powerful works, and he deserves the critical acclaim, but Scott's versions led the way.



If my house was on fire and I was able to only save one album, Scott Walker Sings Jacques Brel would probably be the one I went for. I picked up a copy out of curiosity, at the time I was more familiar with Bowie's versions of the songs, and my mind was opened up completely.

Other artists followed Scott in recording their versions of Brel somgs, from Alex Harvey's astonishing version of Next to Marc Almond's Jackie. Scott led the way.



The chanson of Brel was well matched to Scott's artistic vision. His early solo albums continue to showcasee him as a singer, and the pop star that he very much was, but with an intellectual and cultural edge that few others could match. The Brel covers seemed to give him permission to go on to write his own songs, themselves every bit as poetic and crafted.

His early solo albums are gems that have lost none of their sparkle.



Of course there would be compromises to come, mis-steps and an eventual stepping away from the spotlight. Later years saw a unique body of work develop that set a high water mark for contemporary music.  From The Electrician with late-period Walker Brothers to Soused with Sunn O))) his work was as rewarding as it was challenging, a unique voice combined with a unique vision.

He will be missed.