SHADOWS OF THE HEART Review by Matt LawrenceAs its title suggests, JOHN SCHOLTEN's new release is quite introspective. In fact, the majority of the album's 11 tracks deal exclusively with matters of the heart. And love lost is a recurring theme. Opener, I Can Still Feel, speaks of trying to drink away one's sorrows, Phone Call ponders the agony of waiting for a call that will not likely come, and Hank Williams Blues focuses on the despair of loss. It really is mood music, but doesn't cross the line into self indulgence. Many will no doubt be able to relate to the subject matter and admire Scholten's honest approach. Scholten's vocal performance is perfectly suited to the primarily acoustic arrangements and the instrumentation, which he shares with the album's producer, BILL CHAMBERS, is top class. When the electric guitar is brought in, it is used to full effect. Tracks Drinkin and Scared have a somewhat darker tone as a result. Definitely worth a repeat listen.