Matt Berry takes listeners on a sensory joyride with his thought-provoking new album, The Blue Elephant. Prog catches up with the actor, writer and musician to discuss his love of analogue equipment, working with Craig Blundell and why he decided to make the kind of album he really enjoys listening to.

Words: Johnny Sharp

Images: Ben Meadows

“If an album was recorded between 1969 and 1975, then I’ll listen to it. I’m a huge fan of the feel of records from that era.”

Matt Berry’s new album, The Blue Elephant.

Given the reputation that precedes him, Prog expected Matt Berry to greet us over the phone, Brian Blessed-like, with a booming basso profondo voice closely related to the one that has graced several TV characters and numerous adverts in recent years. But Matt Berry the musician and songwriter and Matt Berry the comedy actor and thunder-tonsilled voiceover specialist are two very different creatures. And if there was any justice, the former incarnation – much closer to Matt Berry the man than the outsized personae of his acting alter egos – would be just as renowned.

Thankfully that situation is increasingly changing, which is one reason why he’s popped up on Prog’s radar in recent years. And his latest LP, The Blue Elephant, his eighth studio set since signing to Acid Jazz 10 years ago, is a particularly progressive affair: marinated in vintage organ and Mellotron flavours and drawing on a turn-of-the-70s sonic palette taking in everything from richly evocative symphonic psychedelia to soundtrack exotica, pastoral prog, muddy blues rock and sunny beat pop.