Matt Berry – Witchazel
21st Century Roy
It’s not often Head Full of Snow will review anything later than the 70s but following a tip-off from Feral of the splendid LateMag, the rulebook has well and truly been chucked out the window. To review an album that was released *shudder* just this month.
What madness is this? Who can it possibly be? Well it’s none other than Matt Berry and his splendid little album, Witchazel.
Matt who?
Well for anybody who has seen the first series of The Mighty Boosh, they will surely remember his barnstorming performance as Dixon Bainbridge, or failing that there’s the equally scene-stealing turn as Douglas Reynholm in The IT Crowd series two and three. And as well as other TV stuff he’s only gone and released a ruddy album! And believe me, it’s no joke. (Pun courtesy of clichés incorporated)
And in the tradition of the mighty Roy Wood, who did the same with his 1973 solo album Boulders, Mr. Berry writes, sings and plays every instrument (well nearly every instrument) on Witchazel, pleasingly (for me, at least) benefiting from a sound that is progressive rock without relying on some of the overblown pomposity that came to be associated with prog during the 70s.
Witchazel is proggish, folky and enjoying the odd brief smattering of psychedelics throughout. If Matt Berry is taking the piss, he hides it well.
Of course, for the most part the lyrics keep their tongue firmly in the cheek but the attention to detail in the music and the amount of effort that must’ve been put in to (almost) single-handedly record this album shows a commitment that can only come from respect for the material it harks back to.
‘A Song For Rosie’ brings to mind a pastoral, Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, while ‘The Pheasant’ spirals off into Yes-influenced space prog. ‘So Low’, a cry for help from those who’ve slipped under the radar has what sounds like a Hammond organ – the prog rock staple – noodling away in the background, whereas the instrumental ‘From the Manger to the Mortuary’, in true prog style, chucks all sorts into the mix, including a music box, chimes, a dinner bell, babies crying, screams, the BBC Radio 4 pips… and ends with a recorder led, May Day peasant parade through Thomas Hardy country(!)
The melody of opener, ‘Take my Hand’, which reprises throughout, may sound dangerously close to Maxine Nightingale’s cheesy 1975 hit ‘Right Back Where we Started From’ but even that’s all right.
Everything is used in this beast and its not to the overall detriment. You’ll find pleasantly abstract lyrics – “… Your penguin’s in the bath, It was put there by your mom …” could’ve been penned by Peter Gabriel himself – rustic folk rock, badger references, prog-rock, mellotrons, space-rock… All it lacks is a Roger Dean cover and the prog purveyors weapon of choice, a flute. And any album that has a song entitled ‘Accident at a Harvest Festival’ is all right by me.
Hot thunder! ‘Rain Came Down’ even features Paul McCartney on backing vocals – even if he does sound drunk.
Witchazel by Matt Berry is well worth a listen and as it’s presently available (though for a limited time ony) on a free download, there’s no excuse not to give it a whirl. Get yourself over to the Witchazel Free Download now.
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no time to make a comment. I’m off to Mr Berry’s site now to download for free. Sounds a bit like Yes ? Don’t get in my way!!
on the last track as i write. I was reminded of Ommadawn (Mike Oldfield) and Jethro Tull, of course. I’m quite excited to know there’s something like this coming out in 2009. Thanks for bringing this to our attention HFOS. And well done that man, Matt Berry.
Thanks Jon. Hope you weren’t too disappointed by the fact only the one song really has that Yes sound to it. You’re certainly right about the mighty Tull influence there, it’s like the Heavy Horses album with all its rustic referencing. As for Mike Oldfield, I have to admit I’ve never listened to any of his albums (Tubular Bells included), as they’ve never really appealed to the prog fan inside me. I do have a brother who has though, so maybe I can be spared ridicule of this intentional faux paus by mere association.
I think the McCartney vocal is Peter Serafinowicz.
Maybe so, though the album credits it as Paul McCartney. If it is the aforementioned (un)funny man, he stays true to type with a bad impression. I prefer to think of it as a blind-drunk Macca.
Lovin’ it!
I thenkyo
Love this album. Matt Berry rocks. Also check out Opium which is also most excellent.
It certainly came as a pleasant surprise to me. I must seek this Opium out and give it a spin.
Absolutely brilliant
Album of the year.