Matt Ellis' fourth solo album features eleven new tracks and is arguably his best work to date. With a few teaser tracks making an early appearance on Little Radio, Hear Ya and the Buzz Bands blog out of LA, this new work has already started developing a buzz on the street. The inspiration for this new album came from time on the road, driving through the Mississippi Delta and Southern States of America. Unequivocally influenced by the private moments Ellis had on the road, you sense the grit of the legendary juke joints, the lulling quiet of the desert, and the effect the slide has on the soul. These new tracks have sincere, plainspoken lyrics and a foot in the fervent sound of old Bruce Springsteen and Waylon Jennings, yet fuse a pop sensibility ideal for radio. Recording began in January 2009, the whole process of the album's making was a journey, a road trip in itself. The journey began at a Venice Beach loft where Ellis cut his vocals and acoustic guitar tracks live with drummer Branden Harper. The laid back recording environment suited the songs and Ellis, perfectly. The pair found themselves free from the pressures of modern studios and decided to work alone, building each song from the ground up, sometimes capturing and keeping a song played in full for the first time. Ellis spent the following months in between shows, bringing in special guest musicians, adding layers to the songs, note by note. Returning guest, Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris) added his haunting signature pedal steel, lap steel and Banjo to four tracks while Tim Young (Beck, Daniel Johnston) channeled the desert through his Telecaster on five of them. Calexico's Nick Luca added further electric guitars, piano and Fender Rhodes while band mate Jacob Valenzuela rounded out two songs with trumpet. The guest list continued with accordion, cello, electric and upright bass, percussion and more guitars, however they saved the best for last with a visit from the one and only, Merry Clayton. Best known for her vocals on The Rolling Stones hit "Gimme Shelter", Merry's career and voice have a life of their own. Merry lent her incredible range to gospel-inspired track, "Ghosts" - a definite highlight of this new set of songs. The album was mixed at Wave Lab studios in Tucson, Arizona by Craig Schumacher. Known for his production and mixing credits with Neko Case, Calexico, Iron & Wine, M Ward, Devotchka and many more, Craig was the perfect, last stop. For media inquiries please contact: Hilary Craven at The Maven Projects Email: cravenh@themavenprojects.com For bookings and further info: Email: info@krowpie.com www.mattellis.com