Possibly by not delving into his personal life away from music, filmmaker Stephan Kijak nabbed a rare interview with reclusive ‘Pop’ musician turned art-song visionary Scott Walker (1943-2019). The film part of a surprisingly robust genre of Music Phenoms Gone Missing (think BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB/’99, SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN/’12, a battery of Brian Wilson/Beach Boys probes), this one just good enough to get its strange story across. An Ohio boy who rose to Fab Brit popster in the mid-‘60s (think you don’t know Walker? - hit this LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q11ium_-Lv8), the three Walker Brothers, neither Walkers nor Brothers, one of the many bands that briefly ‘rivaled’ the Beatles; on tour top-billed over the likes of Cat Stevens & Jimi Hendrix. But lead vocalist Scott quickly turned his back on the whole scene, turning out progressively ‘difficult’ albums that sunk to cult status. Falling out of sight for gaps lasting decades, he never lost his fringe appeal and eventually came back with decidedly unconventional/influential stream-of-conscious albums that got under the skin of many a better known performer. (As singer, Walker no rock or R&B type, but with the basic vocal chops of a jazz crooner.) Among many (see poster for names), David Bowie shows up for an interview and exec produced, and it's impossible to miss how much Bowie picked up from him vocally. Ironic as he was part of the next wave that replaced Walker on the charts. Ultimately, the film leaves you with more questions than you started with, but maybe that’s the point, getting Walker back in the conversation. Nevertheless, his late work is really quite peculiar! Enjoy.
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