Following the dissolution of the Walker Brothers in 1967, Scott Walker (born Noel Scott Engel) embarked on an adventurous solo career, steering the dramatic pop sensibility of his former group into darker, stranger waters. On this debut, the American-born/British-based crooner assertively stakes out his territory as one of the preeminent interpreters of Jacques Brel (as translated by Mort Shuman) by offering up three of the often macabre French songwriter's compositions--the galloping "Mathilde," the gloriously melancholy "My Death," and the gloomy "Amsterdam." Even more notable, however, are Walker's original numbers, particularly "Montague Terrace (In Blue)" and "Such a Small Love," which pull listeners in with delicate intros, only to dive headlong into bombastic orchestral passages that, remarkably, are kept in check by Walker's bold baritone voice and emotive lyrics. Although the singer's enigmatic aesthetic isn't for everyone, those who fall under his spell are strongly affected, as revealed in the work of admiring artists such as David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, Nick Cave, and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker. While BOY CHILD is the best introduction to the fascinating performer, this is the ideal point of departure for delving further into Walker's early--and most influential--material. Format: Vinyl Genre: Pop
