# Scott Walker’s The Drift pairs harrowing themes with abrasive sound

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/scott-walkers-the-drift-will-get-under-your-skin/
- Published: 2026-10-25T21:08:09+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T21:22:37+00:00
- Original publisher: The Verge
- Original article: https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/1018300/scott-walker-the-drift-music-album-review
- Topics: Horror

## Key points

- *The Drift* pairs traumatic subjects with abrasive experimental music.
- The album can be difficult to hear in one sitting.
- Its unsettling performances may reward patient listeners.

## Summary

Scott Walker’s 2006 album *The Drift* is presented as an unusually unsettling record, exploring death, disease and tragedy through stark lyrics and experimental sound. Its mix of disturbing subject matter and abrasive arrangements makes it a challenging listen, but the review says its striking performances can also be rewarding.

The songs refer to the hanging of Benito Mussolini and Clara Petacci, the 9/11 attacks, Walker’s stillborn twin brother and the Srebrenica genocide. Dissonant strings, abrupt silences, mechanical noise and animal sounds shape the album’s sound; one track is said to include percussion made by punching a pig carcass. The album is available on Bandcamp and major streaming services.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.