When I think of music that embodies the spooky season, I categorize it into two main types. The first includes playful and sometimes silly songs like “The Monster Mash” and the iconic “Halloween Theme” by John Carpenter. The second type leans toward the genuinely chilling, featuring artists such as Throbbing Gristle, The Body, and Scott Walker’s haunting album, The Drift.
Released in 2006, Walker’s album is profoundly disturbing. It delves into themes of mortality, illness, and sorrow, but it’s not presented through a detached lens. Instead, it offers raw depictions of unsettling historical events, such as the execution of Benito Mussolini and his lover Clara Petacci, the tragic events of 9/11, the loss of his stillborn twin, and the genocide at Srebrenica. Lyrically, it’s one of the darkest albums you can encounter.
However, the experimental soundscape enhances the album’s impact significantly.
At moments, it feels more like a soundtrack to a psychological thriller directed by Ari Aster than anything resembling mainstream pop music. The track “Jesse” features guitars that ebb and flow in a seasick manner, transitioning into dissonant strings that dominate the chorus with an oppressive atmosphere. The opening of “Clara” immerses listeners in an unsettling sound, including what’s reported to be the percussive sound of a musician striking a pig carcass.
Songs abruptly cut off, lingering in awkward silence before exploding into mechanical chaos. Sounds of animals, experimental audio techniques, and atonal orchestral components clash with Walker’s unique vocal style. The tunes often drift out of tune, which can make it difficult to listen to the entire album at once unless you are in the right mindset. Yet, those who persevere may find the experience to be quite fulfilling.
Certain tracks possess a haunting beauty that can leave listeners with chills or goosebumps. In contrast, Walker’s The Drift elicits a different reaction; it doesn’t just send shivers down your spine but instead evokes a more primal sense of discomfort. It’s the kind of music that makes your skin crawl.
