Secrets Of The Beehive & Scott 4

[Despair]

Been listening to Scott 4 by Scott Walker this week, and certainly the first track `The Seventh Seal` seems to be a reference point for a few songs on `Beehive`. Most notably the `chess` infused trax, Mother & Child and When Poets Dreamed Of Angels.
Knowing that the two of them collaborated, tho briefly,in the mid 80s, do you think Scott Walker is a big influence on Sylvian.
They certainly both share an uncomprimising approach to their work.

Interestingly, Scott Walker is directing some of his own shows at The Barbican Theatre in London, during November. Called `Tilting & Drifting`these live performances will NOT feature Scott Walker performing, but will feature guest vocalists to sing alongside Scott Walkers band.

Wonder if Sylvian will be a guest vocalist ??

On the off chance, i got two front row seats, so fingers crossed.

[Chet]

interesting...
Scott is one curious artist.
always evoluting into surprises.
never disappointing.

[Bern]

Despair, I don't think they parted on the best of terms a Scott Walker book at the time was less than complimentary about Sylvian and when he turned down Ride it remained in Virgin's vaults for 13 years and only saw the light of day due to pressure from Virgin and Ingrid

[godisinthesilences]

Ingrid pressed for Ride to be released?

[Despair]

Hi Bern.
yes i have that Scott Walker book. Its not too harsh on Sylvian to be fair.

Y,know, theres been much talk about Sylvian and Eno on the `pioneers` board, and i may be getting totally confused here, but did Eno produce some of that stuff for Scott Walker ??

[Bern]

Despair, I don't think Walker and Eno ever worked together although I can stand to be corrected

"God", I read an entry on a myspace page from a friend of Ingrid's who was a Sylvian fan who stated she loved Ride and pushed him to include it in "E+N"

[Despair]

Hi Bern.
Ive just checked the Scott Walker book, and ENO did produce some pieces in the mid 80s. He said they were stunning as well, but Walker didnt want to continue with the sessions. These didnt involve Sylvian tho.

As for RIDE, Sylvian must like it too, to have performed it on the last tour.
Still, no bleedin Silvermoon tho

[godisinthesilences]

RIDE is a great song... so i'm thrilled it was included.

[Bern]

Yes I do think Ride is almost epic, but Walker's decision not to record it did colour Sylvian's opinion of the track for some time

[godisinthesilences]

Yes I do think Ride is almost epic, but Walker's decision not to record it did colour Sylvian's opinion of the track for some time

hhmm isn't ego a strange thing? It is always amazing to me what a grip on our psyche it has. It is like a venomous snake which just won't let go until it pollutes our entire being.

[Chet]

I know that many of you like Ride, and so do I,
but I don't think it would have fitted on SOTB, I really understand that it wasn't.
I guess it's the refrain that makes it too... hmmm... too...
well, not profound enough, or is it the drums? or the tempo? I don't know.
but it sure hasn't fot the SOTB spirit.

[camphorvan]

From the interviews I've read in the past, my understanding of what happened was that the money ran out and Ride was left undeveloped - or at least incomplete. I heard, many years ago, an extract of the original version as it stood then - the drums were very different; much more in keeping with SOTB - in fact, I think it was just percussion, no kit involved if I remember rightly. So, he had this track lying around which he then offered to Walker.
I actually think it would have fitted the context of SOTB brilliantly; if you think about the overall picture, but not in it's current form as is evident on E+N. All the songs lead to the climax of Ride, which basically states that in order to see the light, you have to see the dark too, which the story-like songs have in abundance.

So, that's my take on it.

C

[Chet]

thanks for that info. interesting.
would love to hear what you've heard.
cause I do love the melody and the lyrics...
has anybody else heard Ride in it's original idea? other reviews?

[godisinthesilences]

as one of my favourite songs i'd love to hear the original version of it as well. See how it developed over time.

[camphorvan]

I don't have the snippet anymore - I heard it around 97/98, when the internet was a great big fat baby. It was literally about 30 seconds long if that.

C