„You have to make an effort to forget your usual way of doing and considering something, so that you can learn a new way.“ - Scott Matthew

At first glance it may seem surprising that such a gifted song poet comes up with a collection of songs exclusively penned by others on his new studio album UNLEARNED. Because Scott Matthew has earned high respect among critics and fans alike since his self-titled debut in 2008. His previous three solo albums made him stand out from the crowd especially as a songwriter with his highly emotional songs. "Remove what has been learned,the preconception of what you know, so you can view things in a new way and without prejudice", that`s the corresponding translation of the album title. Unlearned, as a title describes the intention of this covers album.

But from first listen of the new album it becomes obvious, that these cover versions are not foreign songs at all, but in a way his very own, original material. "Unlearn", "Forget what you know" ... every song is a blank sheet of paper, which Scott turns into a new symphony of sounds, imagination and emotion. Of course the lyrics and melody persist, but beyond that there is only Scott Matthew...pure. It`s fascinating what visionary energy, what keen individual sense Scott Matthew demonstrates. For example what comes of the originally quite trivial Pop smash "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston is a wonderful, piano-dominated ballad. Yes, even more than that. Scott's version has a distinct tonality , a perfect monument to longing by turning it into sound. Or the incredibly soulful version of Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through The Night" Scott sings with his father Ian Matthew as the perfect congenial duet partner.

To focus on highlights from the album would mean not to give fair consideration to every song not explicitly mentioned. Nevertheless, it should be especially noted on two tracks: The wonderfully air.......
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Czas na covery w wykonaniu jednego z najbardziej przejmujących i emocjonalnych songwriterów jakich Ziemia nosiła. Scott Matthew bierze się za utwory takich gwiazd jak: Radiohead, Rod Stewart, Bee Gees, Jesus And Mary Chain, Neil Young czy Roberta Flack. Wszystkie utwory z albumu (oczywiście wersje oryginalne) były niezwykle ważne w zyciu Scotta i jak mówi sam artysta stanowiły przełomy w kolejnych etapach jego zycia.

Scott Matthew to artysta pochodzący z Australii, mieszkający jednak od 2000 roku w Nowym Jorku. Wcześniej grał w najrozmaitszych zespołach, w Sydney założył min. punkowy Nicotine, z byłym perkusistą Morrisseya, Spencerem Cobrinem, współtworzył w Nowym Jorku grupę Elva Snow, w końcu jednak zdecydował się stanąć na scenie pod własnym nazwiskiem, z bardzo minimalnym towarzystwem, z gitarą akustyczną lub pianinem. Po tym, gdy użyczył swego głosu w słynnym japońskim serialu animowanym „Ghost In The Shell” i napisał muzykę do bardzo dobrze przyjętego filmu Shortbus, zajął się swoim pierwszym solowym albumem. Debiutancki album zatytułowany po prostu "Scott Matthew" wyszedł w 2008 r., potem był kolejny, o najdłuzszym tytule na świecie "There Is An Ocean That Divides, And With My Longing I Can Charge It, With A Voltage That's So Violent, To Cross It Could Mean Death", potem był duet ze Spencere Cobrinem pod szyldem Elva Snow, następnie "Gallantry's Favorite Son". Teraz przyszedł czas na album "Unlearned" i nowe wersje starych utworów.

„You have to make an effort to forget your usual way of doing and considering something, so that you can learn a new way.“ - Scott Matthew

At first glance it may seem surprising that such a gifted song poet comes up with a collection of songs exclusively penned by others on his new studio album UNLEARNED. Because Scott Matthew has earned high respect among critics and fans alike since his self-titled debut in 2008. His previous three solo albums made him stand out.......
more