Perhaps not even Scott Walker truly understands this record, which isn't to say that it it's not one of the most ambitious and ultimately rewarding musical experiences of the last few years; it's just that exactly what Walker was thinking when he made TILT remains a mystery to this day. Even Brian Eno, a huge Walker fan and no stranger to the avant-garde, apparently had to walk away from the sessions early on in the recording.
Longtime Scott Walker fans shouldn't expect either the Brechtian song-stories of his solo material, or his Spector-influenced work with The Walker Brothers. TILT is the sound of a man swallowed whole by the music industry. Unidentifiable noises pop in and out of the mix as Walker's voice, a beautiful baritone almost unequaled in pop, floats ethereally around, at times seemingly diving deep into an undersea echo chamber. The lyrics are more haiku than iambic pentameter and those expecting a chorus (much less a verse), will be severely disappointed. Whatever TILT is, it's unlike anything you have ever heard.
Recording information: Cts Studios; Methodist Central Hall; RAK Recording Studios; Townhouse Studios.
Photographers: Phil Knott; David Scheinmann.
Unknown Contributor Role: Sinfonia of London Orchestra.
Arranger: Brian Gascoigne.
Personnel: Scott Walker (vocals, whistling, guitar); Peter Walsh (whistling, bass drum, drum programming); David Rhodes, Hugh Burns (guitar); Elizabeth Kenny (chitarrone); Greg Knowles (cimbalom); Jonathan Snowden (flute, piccolo); Andrew Cronshaw (flute, concertina, bawu, reeds, horns); Jim Gregory, Andy Findon (bass flute); Roy Jowitt (clarinet); Roy Carter (oboe); Brian Gascoigne (woodwinds, celesta, organ, keyboards); John Barclay (trumpet); Ian Thomas (drums, bass drum, cymbals); Louis Jardim, Alasdair Malloy (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Peter Walsh ; Scott Walker.
Rolling Stone (10/16/97, p.111) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...obtuse, sepulchral music that...matches the ambient extremity of Aphex Twin and the queasy claustrophobia of Tricky....a chilling, often magnificent view into the abyss from a true iconoclast." Spin (10/97, pp.142-143) - 8 (out of 10) - "...An unprecedented mix of industrial noise, shambling tone poetry, and lilting orchestration, TILT...is a picaresque that turns on suggestive character studies of condemned crusaders and exiles....Walker's unearthly voice has never sounded so resourceful..." Vibe (10/97, p.162) - "...On most of TILT, Walker deliberately short circuits the awesome virtuosity of his voice...by singing in a cooler, more neutral style..." Mojo (Publisher) (p.50) - Ranked #31 in Mojo's "The 50 Most Out There Albums Of All Time" - "[A] journey into evil and despair."
a classic this recording is a true masterpiece wich you can categoize between astral weeks and rock bottom no more no less. Submitted by a reviewer (paris france) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Stunning, wonderful, unusual A stunning statement from a mature artist. Completely unique and awe-inspiring, the work of someone who has labored over a well-thought-out collection of songs and created a new sonic landscape. One word of warning: you've probably never heard anything else quite like it. Submitted by Phil (Cedar City, UT) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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