Re: (TV) The Godlike genius of Scott Walker

["Cliff McLenehan" <klif@volny.cz>]

Hi Raymond,

> I can't believe that you yanks are not more familiar with one of your
> finest singers/vocalists..tut tut...

Actually I can. I think Scott's sensibility is too European and 
romantic for most Americans. It really is the music of historical and 
sometimes squalid European cities. While it makes sense in 
London or Antwerp or Rotterdam, I can see lots of North Americans 
wondering what the fuss is about. I also thinjk the music is quite 
firmly fixed in a particular time frame.

go and buy either "Boychild' -a wonderful
> compilation of SW's finest moments in songs

Which has one huge flaw, the CD version doesn't include 'Always
Coming Back To You' which I've always considered to be one of
the most frighteningly desperate lyrics ever written.

 > As for SW's music it's usually
> big,epic,orchestral,windswept,literate,detailed,concise,cinematic,beautifu
> ll y melancolic and fantastically moving and heart-rending - 

That's one of the great things about the music. There's always a 
tension between the arrangements, which are often teetering on the 
edge of schmaltz, and the lyrics which are some of the most 
painful ever written.

> completely bonkers affairs though Bowie for one professes to actually like
> them-(bet he doesn't listen to them THAT much)...

I listen to them about once every 6 months. 'Tilt' makes 'Outside' 
sound like The Osmonds.

> What am i listening to? Papa M,Calexico and XTC latest two...as well as
> playing and writing the best songs of my life....

I'm happy to hear this. I'm listening to Steven Severin's new CD 
'The Woman In The Dunes' which includes a fascinating 
collaboration with Jarboe on a version of 'I Put A Spell On You', lots 
of Czech 60's stuff and the Mick Harvey collections of Serge 
Gainsbourg songs (which have some similarities with Scott Walker 
material).

Cliff
 

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Marc Bolan 1947-1977 A Chronological History by Cliff McLenehan
http://start.at/kliff
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