Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Martin Walker, under his moniker Art Schop, unveils his fifth studio album, The Fifth Hammer—a profound meditation on philosophy, human folly, and the resonant echoes of history. As always, Walker populates his latest songs with characters that are tactile and evocative, whether it’s Ludwig Wittgenstein or a guy who uses his rejection of Leibniz as an excuse to be a bum. But through this realism he explores profound philosophical and existential questions, investigating interconnected themes and inviting listeners into a richly textured sonic and intellectual universe.
Walker has authored both fiction and a book of original philosophy that links the nature of material existence to life’s meaning. His discography mirrors this drive to explore ambitious and expansive themes. His 2012 album Wolfswork draws inspiration from the upheaval of the financial crisis and its haunting parallels to the rise and fall of the Greek Empire—interweaving the story of Lycurgus, the legendary founder of Stoicism, with contemporary events in a striking anthropological narrative. The Death Waits series (I and II) examines the lives and works of artists ranging from Michelangelo to Lou Reed, imagining the formative moments that shaped their creativity. Starguide (2021) shifts focus to the cosmos, contemplating humanity’s place in the universe amid a critical historical juncture, as we navigate the delicate balance between individual and collective survival
The Fifth Hammer takes its name and core inspiration from Daniel Heller-Roazen’s book The Fifth Hammer: Pythagoras and the Disharmony of the World, which explores the major philosophical errors of thinkers such as Pythagoras and Kepler. Art Schop reimagines these intellectual essays as a collection of deeply personal and grounded songs, expanding the scope to include figures like Wittgenstein and Nietzsche. While the album’s themes are philosophical, the music remains intimate, earthy, and often unexpectedly humorous. Even when told through the voices of historical and fictional characters, the songs maintain a fresh and personal feel.
With a degree in Physics from Oxford University and having served as the Information Services Director for the global law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, Walker is hands-on with the technology in the recording studio, and while his analytical side leads him to create music in which everything is essential, he values the contributions of ‘mistakes’ and spontaneity.
Mostly recorded solo, The Fifth Hammer was mixed by Mark Nevers, known for his work on Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s Master and Everyone—an album Walker considers one of his all-time favorites. While The Fifth Hammer features richer and more expansive arrangements, it shares the same folky intensity and intimacy found in Master and Everyone. The final result is an album that feels both timeless and urgent, reflecting our present moment through the lens of past mistakes
Walker is currently finishing up another album that digs into the life and philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, a figure who seems to be the embodiment of paradox. Sharing a philosophical thread and a couple of songs with The Fifth Hammer, this new project extends Art Schop’s sonic palette into the dark blue hues of Heroes and Berlin while continuing his tradition of blending inexhaustible intellectual curiosity with a passion for the minds and hearts of his subjects.
After a career in technology and a stint founding and operating his own online brain training company MindSparke, Walker now works on his music full time in Brooklyn, NY. He strives to create songs that are not only moving and vivid but also invite listeners to throw out preconceptions and reflect on what is or what might be. His work is a testament to the power of music to provoke unexpected thoughts and feelings. For Walker, music is not just a form of expression but a way of exploring the world and our place in it.
With The Fifth Hammer, Art Schop delivers a spellbinding fusion of philosophy and songcraft
