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Product Description
Mark Radcliffe
Exceptionally good…an absolute blinder!...A lot like Jeff Buckley and very Nick Drake.
An eclectic affair, featuring blues, traditional folk, rock, latin & a favour of the East
An eclectic affair, featuring blues, traditional folk, rock, latin & a favour of the East
CD Description
PASSING STRANGER is Wolverhampton based singer/songwriter Scott Matthews' debut album. Upon acquiring his first guitar at the tender age of seven, Scott immersed himself in the music of such iconic figures, who have forever withstood the test of time: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell and Marc Bolan. After spending a number of years playing lead guitar in various Midlands based bands, Scott decided to embark on a solo career. In fact, his very first solo performance lead to a management deal and within a year he was signed to independent label, San Remo and recording his debut album. Scott’s sound is a unique fusion of rock, folk and blues, and features the world renowned tabla player, Sukvinder Singh Namdhari, who has played alongside Ry Cooder and Ravi Shankar. "Inventive album…I keep playing it again and again." **** Maverick "A very worthwhile first effort." - Word "He's fantastic….an absolute genius." - Janice Long (BBC Radio 2) "Exceptionally good…an absolute blinder!" - Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2) Tracks: Little Man Tabla Jam Pt 1 / Dream Song / The Fool’s Fooling Himself / Eyes Wider Than Before / Blue In The Face Again / Sweet Scented Figure / Passing Stranger / Prayers / Musical Interval / Still Fooling / City Headache / Nylon Instrumental / Elusive / Earth To Calm / White Feathered Medicine / Little Man Tabla Jam Pt 2 / Bruno Finale.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having heard the single "Elusive" on a nameless radio station I was transfixed and just had to hear more of Scott Matthews. The album is well worth every penny. The music is blusey, folky, rocky and totally unique.There is not a single track on the whole album I dislike. The combination of his voice and the guitar are just fabulous. This album deserves to be a real hit (as it already is with me) and should become a classic. It's inspiring, relaxing, dreamy and exhilarating all at once. I can't wait to hear more from him.
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In a few years time, when Scott Matthews is about to release his eagerly awaited third album, he will have stopped being shadowed by the inevitable Nick Drake / Jeff Buckley comparisons, and instead will have joined his influences on the 'my favourite artists' lists of music lovers everywhere. Because Matthews is too good a songwriter, too good a singer and too good a guitarist to be written off as a mere talented copyist. Here, on his first album, he shows that far from being retro, he is light years ahead of any other singer/songwriter in Britain today. Blunt, Tunstall, Gonzalez et al can go home now that the real thing has arrived and Ryan Adams, Jeff Tweedy and other US demigods can start keeping a seat warm for him at their table.
This is a stunningly accomplished debut, released on the new San Remo label and mastered by Ray Staff, who has worked with The Stones and Led Zepellin amongst others. Ten songs proper nestle amongst seven further short jams and interludes on a record so well mixed, arranged and sequenced that Arthur Lee might be able to pick up a trick or two from listening. Then there's the quality of the songs, as good as anything you will hear this year. Excellent upbeat openers 'Dream Song' and 'The Fool Fooling Himself' echo parts of Jeff Buckley's 'Grace'; the former's strings, tabla and infectious wordless chorus ensuring your attention wont waver a beat for the next 45 minutes. Thereafter the album's more pervasive mellowness dominates. 'Eyes Wider Than Before' is the sweetest of English folk and 'Sweet Scented Figure' crosses delta blues with Nick Drake.
The album peaks with its final perfect four-song run. 'City Headache' finds the narrator equating urban life to feverish illness, finishing in a French waltz. Debut single 'Elusive' is, quite simply, gorgeous and must make Matthew's girlfriend fall in love with him again every time she hears it, while 'Earth to Calm' finds his guitar picking transcending the mere mortal.
Bring on the next album, and bring it quick.
This is a stunningly accomplished debut, released on the new San Remo label and mastered by Ray Staff, who has worked with The Stones and Led Zepellin amongst others. Ten songs proper nestle amongst seven further short jams and interludes on a record so well mixed, arranged and sequenced that Arthur Lee might be able to pick up a trick or two from listening. Then there's the quality of the songs, as good as anything you will hear this year. Excellent upbeat openers 'Dream Song' and 'The Fool Fooling Himself' echo parts of Jeff Buckley's 'Grace'; the former's strings, tabla and infectious wordless chorus ensuring your attention wont waver a beat for the next 45 minutes. Thereafter the album's more pervasive mellowness dominates. 'Eyes Wider Than Before' is the sweetest of English folk and 'Sweet Scented Figure' crosses delta blues with Nick Drake.
The album peaks with its final perfect four-song run. 'City Headache' finds the narrator equating urban life to feverish illness, finishing in a French waltz. Debut single 'Elusive' is, quite simply, gorgeous and must make Matthew's girlfriend fall in love with him again every time she hears it, while 'Earth to Calm' finds his guitar picking transcending the mere mortal.
Bring on the next album, and bring it quick.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Wow, that is all that can be said about this album. Scott's approach to his songs is masterful and not in any way pretentious. His songwriting doesn't pander to the mainstream (unlike many other solo artists these days). If you like acoustic guitar based music like myself then you will recognise that Scott is a truly talented player using a combination of styles including delicate strumming, slide and fingerpicking. The guitar playing is really mellow and loose and with Scott's laid back voice the whole scene blends together nicely. The arrangements have a dream-like quality, with multi-layered instruments including sitar, flute and tabla keeping things sounding insteresting. There are very few moments where the album sounds overly commercial.
There are a number of things that I really like about the presentation of the album, firstly he hasn't front loaded it with the better tracks, they are arranged in a way where high quality gems can be found throughout. The beautiful Elusive for instance is near the end where it can be looked forward to. White Feathered Medicine is also a personal favourite with some lovely string plucking and delicate melodies, this also comes toward the latter half of the album. With no less than 17 tracks you can easily take your pick of faves and leave the rest, you will still have yourself a full album of decent songs. I personally find listening to the whole thing right through to be an enjoyable experience.
Each song is really well written, and lyrically strong. You can tell that Scott has put a lot of thought in to all aspects of this album and the net result is something that you will want to play again and again.
There are a number of things that I really like about the presentation of the album, firstly he hasn't front loaded it with the better tracks, they are arranged in a way where high quality gems can be found throughout. The beautiful Elusive for instance is near the end where it can be looked forward to. White Feathered Medicine is also a personal favourite with some lovely string plucking and delicate melodies, this also comes toward the latter half of the album. With no less than 17 tracks you can easily take your pick of faves and leave the rest, you will still have yourself a full album of decent songs. I personally find listening to the whole thing right through to be an enjoyable experience.
Each song is really well written, and lyrically strong. You can tell that Scott has put a lot of thought in to all aspects of this album and the net result is something that you will want to play again and again.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Find
I found this in a charity shop and took the chance on it seeing as it was only 2euro.
On first listen at home with it's usaul family distractions it didn't grab me, but when I... Read more
On first listen at home with it's usaul family distractions it didn't grab me, but when I... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Shane O'Mahony
The best album I ever bought. Sublime.
When you get to my age you begin to think you've heard it all and then along comes an album like this one. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2008 by A. SEXTON-JONES
Fave album from 07
The first Scott Matthews song I heard was Passing Stranger and I really liked his unusual sound. He reminded me a bit of Jack Johnson but more soulful. Read more
Published on 22 May 2008 by CJR
Cant put it down!
I just know what I like in music, and this instantly worked for me. I was a big Genesis fan 30 years ago, and I keep hearing the haunting "Anthony Philips" sound from Genesis... Read more
Published on 8 Aug 2007 by Mr. Trevor English
Breathtaking!
Many will buy the album for Elusive alone but the whole album is amazing. Possibily not what you might first expect but after several listens you will be hooked! Read more
Published on 25 May 2007 by howie
he's massive!
I heard him on the radio last night...I bought the album today....His voices echoes Jeff Buckley, so do his solid songs...this guy is going to be massive in a little while. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2007 by ftufuf
one of my favourite albums of last year
There isnt a song on the album that I dont now love. On first listen you fall in love with 'ellusive' and 'city headache' but as time goes on the whole thing grows to be a thing of... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2007 by Jo
Simply stunning
Just watching Scott Matthews talking about the album what can I say but absolutely beautiful songs, voice and guitar work..... Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2007 by Stephen R. Beard
A must buy
I bought this album simply after hearing Scott Matthew breakthrough single "Elusive". Always a risk, but I received a pleasant surprise because "Elusive" is not even the best song... Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2007 by Physical Graffiti
SUPERB!
When I listened to this album for the first time I was blown away by Scott Matthew's delicious lyrics and unique instrumental arrangements. Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2007 by Chipstick
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