Canada's top soul bluesman Matt Andersen has just release his latest record, Halfway Home By Morning. It's the musician's tenth record and finds him on great form. It was recorded at Southern Ground studio, Nashville and produced by Steve Dawson. It's being release by True North Records and runs to thirteen tracks.

Andersen's previous record was the subtly experimental 'Honest Man' where he added in a few new textures in the studio, and wrote songs in different ways like using percussion loops as a basis. This time out he's gone back to basics a little, and seems to have found freedom in worrying less about how the end product will be perceived.

"There are a number of feelings that come to the surface when it’s time to release a new project" Andersen says, "In my younger days, it meant wondering if people would like it, will radio play it, did l make the right decisions, will it get nominated? This time around, there is none of that. I am massively proud of what is on this album and nothing but excited to be able to share it. I went into the studio with the goal of making a recording that I would love and that was free from the restraint that worrying about how it will be received can bring. I feel as good listening to this record now as I did when we were laying down the tracks. It’s full of the joy and energy that was in that room."

The record features guest performances from Amy Helm who duets with Andersen on the tender 'Something To Lose' and the McCrary sisters who add their backing to 'Quarter On The Ground,' a tribute to Andersen's uncle.

"My uncle Joe was the uncle who was always stopping in for a visit or calling on the phone" he explains, "After he passed away, one of his brothers said that he wished he could talk on the phone with Joe just once more. While I was in Nashville recording the new album, we had The McCrary Sisters in to do some singing. I thought as a surprise for my mum I would record the song with them singing so she could have a proper recording of it. I never intended for this song to end up on the album but my manager convinced me otherwise."

Watch a video for the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inVZlx_tvto

Hailing from New Brunswick, Canada Andersen is a multi-award winning artist known for his startling, powerful voice. In 2013 and 2016 he won the European Blues Award for best solo/acoustic act and got three Maple Blues Awards in 2012. He was also the first ever Canadian to take home top honours in the solo/duo category at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Andersen is currently on tour in Europe, with dates remaining as follows:

Mar 29 2019 Baden, CH @ Royal

Mar 30 2019 Mezzago, IT @ Italian Blues River at Bloom Club

Apr 1 2019 Munich, DE @ Technikum

Apr 2 2019 Hamburg, DE @ Elbphilharmonie

Apr 3 2019 Berlin, DE @ Astra

Order the album here: http://smarturl.it/halfhomebymorning
For more info visit Matt's official site: http://www.stubbyfingers.ca/

Author: Cameron Arndt

Cameron Arndt is a musician and freelance writer from Glasgow, Scotland. He writes for his own music review website (www.rockandrolltraffic.com) and also contributes to Music Talkers.