News / / 22.04.14

Matt Berry

Music For Insomniacs (Acid Jazz)

12/20

The transition from actor to musician is fraught with difficulties; for every Kylie Minogue, there’s a handful of Holly Valances. So often they aim to dine at pop’s luxurious table but end up hidden out back, in the alley, begging for scraps. That Matt Berry is better known for his role as Douglas Reynholm in The IT Crowd and the person behind Channel 4 sitcom Toast of London is largely irrelevant – with this record he isn’t striving to join this line, but rather carve out another piece of his peculiar puzzle.

Berry’s previous musical endeavours have included the Snuff Box soundtrack and music for the Steve Coogan comedy Saxondale, while the last of his four previous albums Kill The Wolf was folk prog leaning. Now Music For Insomniacs sees him turn in a whole different direction and firmly embrace synth based musical experimentalism. Born out of a period of sleep deprivation, it’s a record that encapsulates two long form musical pieces that can be broken into several distinct sections, with the rich overhanging influence of electronic pioneers Mike Oldfield and Jean-Michel Jarre at their core. And it’s an admirable attempt. Music For Insomniacs may not be for all, but it’s no laughing matter either.

 

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Words: Nathan Westley

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