The Beatles, Elliott Smith, Robert Johnson, Nick Drake, Johnny Cash, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Beck, Wilco, Danny Keane, M. Ward, John Martyn, Iron and Wine, Neil Young, Ryan Adams, T-Rex, Kings of Leon, Arcade Fire, The Coral, Badly Drawn Boy, The Band, Chris Cornell, Soundgarden, Willy Mason, Nirvana, Paul Simon, The Smiths, Broken Social Scene, The Kinks, Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Syd Barrett, Cream, The Doors, Smog, The eels, David Bowie, Death Cab for cutie, Sigur Ros, Joanna Newsom, Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley, Black Sabbath, Cat Stevens, Tim Buckley, Smashing Pumpkins, Lilys, Pearl Jam, Miles Davis, Modest Mouse, The Beach Boys, Radiohead & Thom Yorke, Stevie Wonder, Sonic Youth, Pavement, Small Faces, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nick Cave, Stone roses, Midlake, The Spinto Band, Neil Finn, Fleetwood Mac ( the 60's line up ), The Band, Rufus Wainwright, Bonnie Prince Billy, Canned heat, George Harrison, The A.M, Foo fighters, Seasick Steve, Super Furry Animals, Bob Marley, The Shins, Ella Fitzgerald, Serge Gainsbourg, Weezer, Paul Weller, The White Stripes, Fleet Foxes, Free, The Black keys, Davy Graham, Devendra Banhart, Bert Jansch, Supergrass, The Byrds, Procal Harum, The Pixies, Ben Harper, Flaming lips, Django Reinhardt, Traffic, Tim Hardin, Fairport Convention.......
U.S. customers, can now buy Scott's new album digitally, from Island Tunes:
Island Tunes
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of record label ‘Island Records’ Scott has contributed music to a celebratory 3CD set of Classic Island Songs. Scott's contirbution is a cover version of Bob Marley's classic, 'Is This Love'.
zero dB, set up by human rights charity Reprieve exists to highlight the brutality and widespread use of music torture.
By joining our silent protest you’re helping to send a message to governments across the world that this barbaric practise is strongly condemned by the people they represent.
Join a growing number of musicians and fans by signing our petition at www.zerodb.org
Introducing, Bruno Cavellec, the man responsible for the "elsewhere" album artwork:
Intended as a study of a very personal experience, "He Has Left Us Alone" soon developed into a more universal statement of man’s fragility and vulnerability. Painted in the romantic tradition, it shows the influence of German painter David Caspar Friedrich whose depiction of human isolation resonates deeply in me. In my life long attempt to integrate humanity with the natural, unspoilt word, "He Has Left Us Alone" marks a very important step.
Yet, another step was to be made when Scott decided to chose it for his second album. It has always been a dream of mine to collaborate with musicians by illustrating album covers. Lots of my work takes its direct inspiration from music. The creative process often starts when moods and melodies reach deep inside you and take you to a place full of feelings. The whole experience leading to the composition of an original piece of art can be so rewarding.
Needless to say, with Elsewhere’s emotional content and quality, my dream has come true.
Scott Matthews created his second album ‘Elsewhere’ with a single aim in mind. “I wanted to make a record that locks you in,” he says, “something that gives you a feeling that stays with you. For me, making music is all about creating a mood.”
Released on May 18, 2009 on the San Remo label via Island Records, ‘Elsewhere’ is the follow-up to Matthews’ acclaimed debut album ‘Passing Stranger’, which went Silver in the UK and won him an Ivor Novello best song award for the signature single ‘Elusive’. Produced by Matthews and Gavin Monaghan (Mercury Rev, The Smiths, Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello), ‘Elsewhere’ features 11 new songs, including the powerful lead single Fractured and a duet with Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant on ‘12 Harps’.
At the heart of this album is the songwriting craft that has had Wolverhampton-based Matthews compared to such icons as Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley and John Martyn. But Matthews has also expanded his range this time out, with an adventurous approach to writing and recording, incorporating influences as diverse as Nick Cave, David Bowie and The Smashing Pumpkins, and utilising an eclectic array of instrumentation from Theramin to brass band.
“Spontaneity is the key,” he explains. “The more you think about something, the more you lose the feeling of it. A lot of the vocal tracks on this album were recorded in one or two takes. I’d finish the lyrics and then record the song right away, just warm the microphone up and go. The performance aspect is something we’ve really gone for – it can be a great take first time.”
Matthews began writing for this album as early as 2006, when the title track was completed just as he was finishing recording Passing Strangers. Several songs were written on the road during a hectic two-year touring schedule that saw him supporting Rufus Wainwright, Bert Jansch, the Foo Fighters and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. “You end up with tapes marked ‘Düsseldorf, Room 207’,” he says. The remainder of the album was written in Gavin Monaghan’s studio near Wolverhampton, where recording began in February 2008.
“There’s a certain thread running through these songs,” Matthews states. “It became more evident the more I wrote, that there was some kind of connection. There’s a reflective mood to the album. A lot of the tracks fade out, and that was intentional: to give people a chance to reflect on what they’ve just heard.”
Equally, Matthews was keen to experiment within the framework of these new songs. He cites Mercury Rev, The Smashing Pumpkins and Hunky Dory-era Bowie as key reference points. “There’s more quirky stuff this time, more electric guitar, which shows a different side to me. There’s a whole range of sounds, like the brass on ‘Suddenly You Figure Out’ – it’s tuba, trombone, French horn and trumpet, and it’s all just slightly out of tune. It’s a rough and ready colliery band sound, and that adds to the charm of the song. We didn’t care about making it slick – we just thought, that works with that song.”
This anything-goes ethic is reflected in the use of two very different guest musicians on the album. Scott’s brother Darren plays piano on three tracks. “He’s a postman,” Scott says. “He’s keeping it real, man!” And then there’s Robert Plant…
“Planty’s really down to Earth,” Scott says. “He was at Gavin’s studio, sorting out some work experience for his son, and Gavin played him some of my stuff. He’d already heard ‘Passing Stranger’ and he liked my voice more than anything, although some of the things on my first album had that acoustic Led Zep III kind of vibe.”
According to Scott, it was the producer’s idea to have Plant sing on 12 Harps. “The song was just a sketch, but the more I thought about Robert singing on it, the more it worked. The song is very much steeped in the Zeppelin tradition: it has a strange story, and it’s very mystical sounding. So I sent an MP3 to him while he was on tour with Alison Krauss, and he phoned me from Texas saying he’d love to do it.”
It was only when Plant had agreed to duet with him that Scott started to panic. “I was scared at the prospect of singing with him, singing in front of my idol. That raw energy on those first two Zeppelin albums, it’s frightening! But when he turned up at the studio, we just started jamming and I began singing to show him the melody and the phrasing, and I forgot who I was singing with. We only did a couple of takes and nailed it.”
Like Plant, Scott Matthews prefers to stay close to his roots in the Midlands. “When I’m writing I never really know where the inspiration comes from, but I like to be in my own space. When I’m alone with my thoughts, that’s when the lyrics take shape. Most of what I write is kind of abstract, but I’m working towards making the lyrics centre-stage. I’ve been listening to a lot of Nick Cave recently, ‘Abbatoir Blues’. I’ve been getting into Morrissey’s stuff – it’s so funny and so poetic. And I love the surreal edge to Tom Waits’ lyrics, the way he sets you up for a killer line. Listening to artists like them, it’s very inspiring.”
To coincide with the release of ‘Elsewhere’, Scott is undertaking a solo tour of 11 dates across the UK, culminating with an appearance at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre on June 3. “On previous tours I got used to having the other musicians with me. I felt the need to test myself again. And I’m looking forward to playing these new songs for people. I’m really proud of them.”
Scott is also looking forward to the next album: he already has dozens more songs written. “I think the next record could be more minimalist. I could see myself doing something really stripped back, like The Black Keys, or what Beck did on Sea Change, that one mood. I’ve been a musician quite a long time but I’m still experimenting. With this album I’ve learned more about my own voice, and I want to keep moving. I’ve been given this great opportunity to make music. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
‘ELSEWHERE’ the new album by Scott Matthews will be released on 18th May 2009
Yo Scott Matthews, Whenever I listen to your music. I feel like singing too. But your talent is unmatched. How much time you spend to rehearse per day Scott Matthews? Love ya. Jane PS:Follow Me Twitter at http://twitter.com/iaent
Seeing you play at The Plug was worth the 3 year wait Scott. Thanks for being real as well as a great artist. It was good chatting to you and Vijay. Have a great tour !! Cheers Nick C
Alice, who the £$%* is Alice?!! Loved the gig last night! Saw you a while back at Leeds uni and really been looking forward to seeing you again. Nice to see it all stripped back to you and the guitars (all of them!!) Beautiful :0) Hope you enjoyed the Blues Bar!!
fantastic gig in Edinburgh tonight, everything was played so beautifully. Keep coming back to the Queens Hall! But we'll get that lighting man sorted out.
amazing gig in brighton last night, you were so good, been a big fan from way back now and it was great to see one of my inspiration heros up so close and personal. i love your stuff and thanks for hanging aound to chat and sign stuff. had fab night. good luck with everything, look forward to new album next year. x
Hey Scott Loved the show in Colchester the other night. We've been waiting a long time for you to come our way but it was more than worth the wait. Do come back soon though :) It was great to meet you after the show and have a chat too. Looking forward to the new tunes.
Feel free to check out my tunes and let me know what you think? :)
hi scott, its matt from your gig at colchester arts center last night.... just to say, once again, thanks for a brilliant show and please come back again! really looking forward to the new material, the one you played last night was cool, cant remember what it was called tho.... anyway, keep doing what you are doing! matt
Fabulous gig last night in Colchester. You're talented and funny! Would have loved to stay for a chat, but had to get back to Cambridgehire. If you're ever down this way, send a message and we'll get you out for a Guinness in Stilton! x
Lovely to meet you last night at Norwich arts centre - totally beautiful gig, like I said to you - my friends and I all felt like we'd shared something really special. Great to chat "music" with you , very inspired now , I feel some new songs on the way!
My
new single "Wonderwoman" is now available for a listen at www.myspace.com/juliewillumsen
Releasedate Monday the 26. of October, but can
already be pre-ordered at www.play.com
Online Now!
