After their initial success in the 60s, The Walker Brothers split in 1968. Scott Walker, troubled by depression ended up seeking refuge in a monastery. All 3 "brothers" produced solo records, most notably Scott Walker whose solo records are all stone cold classics.
The group re-convened in the 70s and produced 3 albums. The last of these was 1978s "Nite Flights", after which the Walker Brothers were no more.
This album is made up of songs written by all 3 of them, with Scott's tracks being the opening 4 tracks (& the ones to download here). These tracks pointed the way to darker, weirder and more experimental territory where his further solo material would go.
Sounding as though it was influenced by Bowie's "Low", this record clearly influenced Bowie who has professed his admiration for Scott Walker on many occasions and indeed covered the title track of this LP.
Brian Eno has heavily praised this LP too, so it must have sat alongside his krautrock passion as a big influence. Apparently, Midge Ure was inspired by "The Electrician" to write Vienna, but you can't have it all I suppose.
So this record is an important piece of the jigsaw, alongside the Bowie/Iggy/Eno ripples from Berlin:
- Iggy Pop - The Idiot
- David Bowie - Low / "Heroes" / Lodger
- Brian Eno - Before and after Science / Music For Airports
- Cluster and Eno
- Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
etc...
The film Scott Walker:30 Century Man is essential viewing
Scott Walker - 30 century Man (from Scott 3 [1969])
Tracks 1 - 4 from Nite Flights HERE
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