As silence descends, soft and haunting sounds begin to drift
from the stage, echoes delicately produced by a glass slide on electric guitar strings,
which usher us into an almost trance-like state.
Ahead of the release of his sixth album, Home Part 2, later this month, the award-winning
singer-songwriter Scott Matthews has returned to Telford’s Warehouse in Chester to
give us a spellbinding solo performance like no other.
As ever, it is truly remarkable how Scott’s
voice seems to transform itself and resonate with the quality of a cello as he sings. The
effortless fluidity of his vocal range and his graceful vibrato never fail to send shivers running up and down the spine.
Playing around with the songs we know so well is a habit of
his, and, every time he begins, we never quite know which one will suddenly
emerge from each meandering intro. As well as favourites like ‘City Headache’, ‘Eyes Wider than Before’,
‘Sunlight’, and ‘Virginia’, we’re treated to a handful of songs from his
upcoming album and the first from his new label, Shedio Records – created by
Scott himself.
With greater creative freedom than ever before, he has been
able to put together a piece of work that meaningfully reflects on his
evolution as an artist.
“Sonically, I wanted to create a very broad canvas this time
around,” he reveals. “Home Part 2
bears similarities to my debut album, Passing Stranger, in the sense that there
has been a desire to return to the roots where my musical seeds were planted.
Almost like a need to rekindle a relationship with the artist I was ten years
ago, but joining forces with the artist I am today.”
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| Local folk trio, Mountainface (Sam Rowlands Photography) |
Scott will be heading on the road with
his band, immediately after his solo tour, to play at venues across the UK before heading to tour in Europe. Also promised later
this year is a special edition LP of Passing
Stranger to mark the anniversary of its release ten years ago. 2016 has
proven to be an exciting and busy year for the artist, something which his
dedicated fan base is no doubt thankful for.
Supporting Scott before his Telford’s gig were the boys from
local folk trio, Mountainface, featuring the particularly skilled mandolin
playing from Matthew Youds, rhythm guitar and reedlike lead vocals from David Weir, and lead
guitar and backing vocals from Tom Winch. The group’s passion for their music
is clearly visible as they perform, and marries with their undeniable energy.
Scott Matthews’s single, ‘The Lantern Flower’, is available
now; His album, Home part 2, is released
19th September, 2016 and is available for pre-order here (including a free download of new single 'Drifter')
To find out more about Scott, visit scottmatthews.uk
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