Probably more recognisable as a comedy actor, Matt Berry is definitely known – and revered – for his extraordinary speaking voice. From characters such as randy Douglas Reynholm in The IT Crowd to a hangman in cult hit Snuff Box, Berry has gained much comedic kudos, but he’s been beavering away at his music for many years. He scored and performed the soundtrack for Snuff Box, co-wrote and starred in pastiche rock opera AD/BC, and unleashed album Opium, a brilliantly dated mix of spoken word and prog rock, in 2005.
Now Berry is making bigger strides in music having just officially released “debut album” Witchazel – available as a free download last year – and touring with his band, the Maypoles.
So tonight is about the music... with a hint of humour. Berry’s occasional banter is amusing and his set, notably the back catalogue, means he can’t fully escape dicing with parody anyway. We hear One Track Lover from comedy show Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, which neatly segues into In the Air Tonight, plus numbers from AD/BC.
And there's the theme from Snuff Box, a definite highlight, which sees myriad instruments summoned to the stage. Trombone, trumpet and sax players all fight for space as each gets their moment in the spotlight. It's thoroughly entertaining. Bass and drum solos follow before Berry takes to his synthesizer for a slightly indulgent albeit crowd-pleasing section warranting a premature bow.
Berry’s indulgence should be applauded, though. His recent compositions from Witchazel are like journeys of psychedelic twists and folky turns, with plenty of funk in the road, and prove he was right to persevere with making the tracks he wanted to – they are genuinely good. And in the Maypoles, Berry has a fantastic rhythm section to steal some focus, which makes for a great live show.
While he may never lose his comedic facade, tonight's gig says Matt Berry deserves to be equally known for his songwriting – something he is clearly passionate about – and his singing voice. Also noteworthy is the tenderness in his music; single
Take my Hand, which closes the main set, being a beautiful, shining example.
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