Hudson Scott announces himself with inspired and joyous debut outing, “Clay”

29 February 2016, 12:15 | Written by George O'Brien

(Tracks)

(Hudson Scott)

“But what can I say girl? You shape me like clay”, Hudson Scott croons with a fluid, characteristic vocal. And there is indeed something clay-like, malleable about this debut offering that marks the start of a very promising future for Scott.

Having played brass for the likes of Foals and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, the fellow-Oxford-born artist worked as a carpenter and exchanged labour for studio time. It was clearly time well spent.

The atmospheric, retro movie-soundtrack synth opening sets the scene for the aforementioned voice to wind intimate words above an increasingly joyous bed of production complete with soulful, wah-wah guitar licks and brilliantly restless percussion. Particularly prominent is the funk-inspired, sticky bassline, which helps align Scott with the likes of LA Priest and Porches.

Produced by Duncan Tootill and mixed by Boxed In’s Oli Bayston, “Clay” draws on Scott’s own influences which stretch from Arthur Russell to Berlin-era Bowie, and the result is this exceptionally soulful and attention-grabbing alt. pop debut.