Don’t be deceived. He is a meticulous planner. In a sense, Scorpion marks a departure from his normal way of doing business. On this occasion, Johnson, leader of the Texas alt. country outfit Centro-matic, arrived at the studio without any finished songs. Working with bandmates Matt Pence and Scott Danborn, they quickly improvised a collection of material that is thoughtful and pensive.
The lyrics are pushed back in the mix, so that you have to cut through a thicket to reach them. When you do, startlingly beautiful images loom out of the murk, whether it be talking of the “golden beast of love” on the opening track ‘You Will Be Here, Mine’ or evoking “winter’s long release” on the title track. The whole is a masterclass in sketchy, impressionistic beauty. Well worth hearing.