Matthew Scott Ragland’s self-titled album is a nine track masterpiece which seamlessly blends ethereal layers, warm vocals and cinematic production elements into one cohesive experience.
‘K’ sets the mood perfectly by conjuring dreamlike atmospheres and intimate storytelling – creating a safe haven for listeners who discover each track to their delight as the album progresses. Each track on Matthew Scott Ragland’s self-titled album contains musical riches galore.
Ragland’s signature warm vocals blend effortlessly with optimistic guitar fingerpicking in track four: ‘Cold Faces’. His dreamlike atmosphere builds, taking you on an amazing voyage through layers of ambience, with each chorus serving as its sail to carry him into new territories.
“Ladybug”, the sixth track, begins with stunning crisp acoustic guitar and ambient sounds that create a mesmerising musical journey filled with musical treasures at every turn. Ragland’s rich vocals seduce your auditory senses like never before to create an immersive listening experience with surprises at every corner.
This album concludes with “K Reprise”, an instrumental reprise of its opening track that serves as an exquisite endpoint. Reminiscent of its predecessor in terms of both tone and aesthetic quality, its beauty lends an airy quality that perfectly captures what the album represents as whole.
Matthew Scott Ragland is best-known as one of the members of Nelo and returns with his own full-length solo album as an independent artist. Drawing upon his extensive experience as a composer, guitarist, producer, songwriter and performer – Ragland infuses Nelo-esque sounds into this new release while exploring cinematic and electronic production elements to craft something completely his own.
“I had a very clear creative vision for Nelo, and what I loved about that vision was that it was not all about me. I wrote the songs but never sang them. I provided the vision and the songs as raw material, and we dressed them together as a band. I just loved that collaborative process.”
Ragland’s self-titled release showcases his ability to craft songs that are both musically dense and personal in his content. The album boasts an eclectic assortment of instruments including violins, cellos and synthesisers, all underpinned by an acoustic guitar’s soulful resonance.
“Matthew Scott Ragland” is an immersive sonic journey, offering intimate melodies atop atmospheric landscapes and solo artistic expression from Ragland himself. Fans of Nelo will recognise its melodies while newcomers can look forward to witnessing how Ragland presents himself musically through these performances.
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You can listen to ‘Matthew Scott Ragland’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.