With a brand new Scott Walker record supposedly now months rather than years away, the reissue of his often overlooked 1983 album 'Climate Of Hunter' serves as a taster of what to expect next. It must have sounded odd then and it still sounds a little disorientating now. Incorporating the sounds of the time, the persistent use of fretless bass and epic synth washes make an odd bedfellow for Walker's rich tones. Moreover, the guest contributions are fascinating; what other records would include Mark Knopfler, Billy Ocean and Brian Gascoigne? Although Walker is never overcome by whatever his contributors throw at him it is no coincidence that the best track here, 'Sleepwalkers Woman', sounds like a return to his 60s compositions when Wally Stott was at the helm. Rather like his similarly experimental follow-up 'Tilt', this is a curiosity rather than a classic.
With a brand new Scott Walker record supposedly now months rather than years away, the reissue of his often overlooked 1983 album 'Climate Of Hunter' serves as a taster of what to expect next. It must have sounded odd then and it still sounds a little disorientating now. Incorporating the sounds of the time, the persistent use of fretless bass and epic synth washes make an odd bedfellow for Walker's rich tones. Moreover, the guest contributions are fascinating; what other records would include Mark Knopfler, Billy Ocean and Brian Gascoigne? Although Walker is never overcome by whatever his contributors throw at him it is no coincidence that the best track here, 'Sleepwalkers Woman', sounds like a return to his 60s compositions when Wally Stott was at the helm. Rather like his similarly experimental follow-up 'Tilt', this is a curiosity rather than a classic.
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