Matt Schofield - Anything But Time (2011)





Tracks:

[3:38] 1. Anything But Time
[6:51] 2. See Me Through
[5:41] 3. At Times We Do Forget
[5:02] 4. Shipwrecked
[4:52] 5. Dreaming Of You
[3:43] 6. Wrapped Up In Love
[7:00] 7. Where Do I Have To Stand
[4:17] 8. One Look (And I'm Hooked)
[4:11] 9. Don't Know What I'd Do
[4:37] 10. Share Our Smile Again


Since emerging onto the British blues scene 7 years ago, Matt Schofield has never ceased to amaze his audience and with the release of `Heads, Tails & Aces' in 2009, he finally received the recognition he truly deserves being awarded 'Best British Blues Guitarist' and 'Best British Blues Album' at the 2010 British Blues Awards. Since embarking on his first US tour last year, Matt Schofield has been taking his music to the world playing concerts in Canada, Europe and Asia where he also jammed alongside Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang and Shemekia Copeland at the Mumbai Blues Festival in India.

Matt Schofield is once again at his compelling best playing guitar & vocals on 'Anything But Time' released this month by Nugene Records, that features new drummer Kevin Hayes (ex Robert Cray Band) along with regular stalwart and keyboard wizard Jonny Henderson, who unconventionally also plays bass on keys and was voted 'Best British Keyboard Player' at the 2010 British Blues Awards. Produced by John Porter and recorded in New Orleans, three of the ten tracks also include special guest Jon Cleary on keys to add that distinct New Orleans feel to proceedings. All but two of the ten songs on 'Anything But Time' are co-written with Dorothy Whittick, leaving renditions of Steve Winwood's 'At Times We Do Forget' and Albert King's 'Wrapped Up In Your Love' to acknowledge some of his influences. 'The opening title track `Anything But Time' puts you straight in the groove and there is plenty to admire here from the slow burning 'See Me Through' to the blues driven 'Where Do I Have To Stand' and 'Don't Know What I'd Do', although the inclusion of the rap tinged 'One Look (And I'm Hooked) was perhaps a little surprising? The upbeat 'Shipwrecked' is also well worth a mention along with the excellent 'Share Our Smile Again'

that closes the set, but the pick of the crop has to be the sublime Hendrix fuelled 'Dreaming Of You' that a lot of fans will soon hope to experience live!

Matt Schofield as always is able to eloquently express himself through his guitar without being overly self indulgent, but what also makes this album so special like its predecessor, is the way it successfully blends genres allowing music to be played 'on the edge' with a sense of adventure whilst at the same time remaining tight and cohesive.

'Anything But Time' confirms Matt Schofield as one of the most innovative guitarists in the world today, able to seamlessly fuse blues with jazz, funk and rock and after listening to this... I'm sure you'll agree!
_{Quelle:John Stracey}


Remi