Krissy Matthews
Album: Scenes From A Moving Window
Label: Promise
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.krissymatthews.com

I first caught sight of Krissy Matthews at the recent Rock and Blues Festival in Skegness where he came onto the stage wearing an all-white suit.

He was certainly dressed to impress and he played a great set with legendary Sixties songwriter Pete Brown of Cream fame. I sat up and took attention.

The pair have teamed up with this CD, with Pete Brown getting production, writing and playing credits.

Krissy is a talented 22-year-old guitarist and this album is a great showcase.

The opening rocker If I Had A Time Machine starts with some old-time acoustic slide harking back to "the good old Sixties", the song explodes into a rocking homage to the stars who paved the way for today's young musicians - the Stones, Hendrix, Manfred Mann, Alexis Korner, Cream, John Mayall, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page are just some of the great musicians that get a name-check.

It Ain't Worth It is a Chicago-style shuffle blues that gives Krissy plenty of room to let rip on the guitar.

Day by Day is a slower ballad with tinkling piano and acoustic guitar which build nicely with a sympathetic guitar break and excellent piano. It's a personal song that shows Krissy has a softer side.

There are joint writing credits for Pete Brown on all the tracks except for the only cover - Blind Willie McTell's Searching the Desert For The Blues.

The blues-influenced guitar playing throughout is confident and lyrical. The production is crisp and the songs really shine.

Bubbles and Seven Phones tells the story of the passing of an old friend who acted as Krissy's manager and agent - and a phone for each day!

Stand out track for me is Heading South, a gentle tale of life on the road which starts with understated keyboards and guitar. The chorus is all shimmering guitar and electric piano. The solo is a great example on how to play with few notes but maximum feel. Excellent.

As Pete Brown says in the comprehensive liner notes: "Krissy is one of the hardest-working young musicians in the business. He is, at the age of 22, already streets ahead of most."

John Knighton