Scott Matthews

For his third album, Ivor Novello award winner Scott Matthews, has seemingly shed any commercial demands to record an introspective and impressive exhibition of hushed guitar. What might be seen as a backward step by not going for a broader appeal, is more likely a sign of his confidence and of just how comfortable he is with his fanbase.

The old adage about not judging a book by its cover (or in this case an album) can be ignored here. A grainy black and white photo shows Matthews sat at a desolate railway station and that’s a fair clue as to what to expect from What The Night Delivers.

The album sees Matthews back with producer Jon Cotton, who was at the controls for his 2005 debut but very much in more hushed surroundings. The likes of Myself Again and Obsession Never Sleeps offer more space than earlier material and the latter’s Radiohead similarities underline the musical progression.

Walking Home In The Rain sounds exactly like it should, with brushed drums and vocals that wash over you as Matthews sings of ‘pining eyes’ that ‘greet the daylight scared’. But while the over wrought emotion works here, tracks like Ballerina Lake end up lacking depth.

There’s a nod towards his earlier material on Bad Apple, which intentionally or not sounds more like an American performer, which was perhaps a weakness with the first two albums. An impressive step up from Wolverhampton’s Matthews and one that could see him land a few awards.