Customer Reviews

Nite Flights

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When THE WALKER BROTHERS unexpectedly reformed in 1975 with the album "No Regrets", it did seem for a brief while that they may just be capable of reaching the kind of dizzy heights they peaked at in the Sixties, especially when the title track "No Regrets" became a smash hit. By the time the next album, "Lines", was released in 1976 however, any such thoughts became fairytales.

The final album in the reformed WALKER BROTHERS tenure was quitely unleashed in 1978 under the title of "Night Flites", and was quickly forgotten. Unlike it's two predecessors though (which whilst enjoyable were certainly not Scott Walker at his most prolific), "Nite Flites" began the transition for Scott which saw him completely leave behind the Scott Walker of the Sixties, particularly the persona from the the first three WALKER BROTHERS albums. The fact that Scott always seemed to hate having to deal with the fame of being a "pop star" made this progression inevitable, and the often touted inaccessability of his self-penned material on his two solo albums after "Nite Flites" (on 1983's "Climate Of Hunter" and 1995's "Tilt"), actually can be heard unexpectedly on this, THE WALKER BROTHERS final album.

Viewing "Nite Flites" as a whole, I would only rate the album with 3 stars, as the only tracks of real note are the first 4 out of a total of 10. These four stand-out tracks are the only ones written and sang by Scott, and it certainly shows. Whilst the 70's disco influence threatens to invade both tracks 1 and 3 ("Shutout" and "Nite Flites" respectively), they are nevertheless brimming with cutting lyrics which seem to float around, trying desperately to interlink with each other whilst fighting to find a deeper meaning. Both songs are backed by a rock/pop beat, and yet like so many of Walker's output, hide a much darker and deeper tone than at first may be apparent.

If these two songs would have lovers of only the more commercial pop style of the sixties WALKER BROTHERS confused and disillusioned, then tracks 2 and 4 would have them turning off their stereos in sheer disgust! For "Fat Mama Kick" and "The Electrician" really do push THE WALKER BROTHERS further than they were actually equipped to go. By that, I mean simply that they are purely the mind of Scott Walker - personal, complex songs that relate to drug use and are admittedly difficult for the average listener to fully comprehend. John Walker and Gary Leeds simply have no function in this arena, and it was inevitable that this had to be the last album for the group.

The remainder of the album are lacklustre affairs written and performed by John and Gary, with Scott assisting on backing vocals and playing the occasional keyboard or guitar. Granted, none of them are particularly dreadful, and the disco drenched album closer "Child oF Flames" is a lot of fun, but when you realise that whilst listening to the lyrics that both John and Gary are almost trying to compete with Scott's unique, poetic style of writing, the whole affair becomes almost laughable. Neither Gary or John have the expressive voice to carry off even "second-rate" Scott Walker style songs, so allowing them to perform and write the last six songs is all too foolhardy, and has you believing that the entire album is pretty average.

"Nite Flites" is certainly not just average fodder however. For the first four tracks it has the listener spellbound as they try to comprehend what dark journey Scott is asking them to follow (and believe me you get something new out the songs every time you listen to them, as if unravelling some chinese puzzle). The remainding Leeds/J Walker compositions do seem out of place though, and make you realise that the time had come for Scott to break up the band once again, and thereafter embark on his remarkable masterpieces that are "Climate of Hunter" and "Tilt".

Within THE WALKER BRORTHERS cannon then, "Nite Flites" does stand alone. It's like nothing else the band ever recorded, and whilst doesn't rank with either "Take It Easy...", "Potrait" or "Images" (the sixties albums), is still well worth purchasing, if only for the first four tracks!

This is more of a Scott Walker album than a real Walker Bros album so Walker Bros fans may be disapointed by the content if they are more used to "The Sun Aint Gonna Shine Anymore" and "Make It Easy On Yourself". However Scott Walker fans will find more to celebrate here with astonishing tracks like the epic "The Electrician" (my own personal fave from this album).
Interesting stuff indeed.

The last Walker Brothers album marked the end of The Walker Brothers. Even within the Scott Walker songcatalogue, it is the turning point and the zenith of his work. A song like The electrician... who else could have done this kind of music. It scares the crap out of avantgarde or the people thought they heard it all. When listen to this... Kraftwerk and Suicide come to mind. To me, it's visual music... I can see things with that music. Turn me off. I'm slow, you'll be scared too, just try.

I have been a fan of the Walker Brothers since about 1965, and was thrilled when this album came out several years ago. I purchased it and have played it about three times since then. They have not aged well.