Growing up in the Australian bush I didn’t have access to a lot of popular culture. My only connection to “cool” music was through community radio 4ZZZ. I would hole myself up in my room light incense to cover the smell of my cigarettes and listen.
In these evening listening marathons I discovered bands like The Smiths and The Cure. We would make trips to the city and with my small allowance earn’t from washing cars, mowing lawns and other tawdry chores, I headed for the record shop in the mall.
Of course it was impossible to find “cool” music in this suburban record store. The only option I had was to order something and wait an agonizing 2 weeks for it to arrive.
This is what I did.
The dilemma was what to order?? I was given a huge catalogue and went straight to C for The Cure. I was surprised that they had released so many albums even back then. Now me being the rebellious kid, I was always looking for ways to piss off my parents so when I discovered they had made an album called Pornography my mind was made up.
Two weeks later and another trip to the city and Pornography was MINE. The darkest, most deliciously depressing album ever made. I cranked that album up in my room and listened on repeat . The imagery of spiders, blood and sickness were unbelievably amazing and I truly believe that it had a profound influence and shaped me as a teenager.
It also really pissed my folks off.
Perfect.
Scott Matthew Gallantryʼs Favorite Son was released Feb 7th, 2012 on Riot Bear Recording Co.
“For some it seems a mistake, for me it’s a way of life.”
Itʼs a lyric from Aussie-born New Yorker, Scott Matthewʼs new album, which also tells the story of Matthewsʼ own journey. In a nutshell, itʼs a life of tragically beautiful music, brimming with longing for a sanctuary; a place to wait for a love that will surely come some day.
For this bearded angel – whom Rolling Stone mag aptly likens to Antony Hegarty and androgynous-era Bowie – writing and recording third solo album, Gallantryʼs Favorite Son, was the time “I came to terms with myself”. The result is a more confident, self-assured Matthew tackling issues like bigotry, intolerance and afterlives. With confidence comes joy too, so in first single “The Wonder Of Falling In Love” we find Matthew dancing in a more playful pop playground reminiscent of 2009ʼs “Thistle.” Together with newie “Felicty,” Matthew weaves connectors between Scott Walker and Devendra Banhart; Council-era Paul Weller and Burt Bacharachʼs lush string pop.
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