Beloved British polymath Matt Berry has teamed up with singer-songwriter Emma Noble for a rendition of the song “Beatmaker”, which was featured on last night’s episode of the highly anticipated show Toast of Tinseltown. You can listen to the tune at the link below.
The song is a cover, originally recorded and released by Swedish pop singer Doris’ in 1970. Noble and Berry’s arrangement of the tune maintains a similar upbeat energy to the original, featuring a prominent horn section, and intermittent stabs from a sizzling rock organ. Noble’s vocals are smooth and full of life, almost bouncing off of the grooving drum beats.
Toast of Tinseltown stars Berry as the titular character Steven Toast, an eccentric and somewhat narcissistic actor who finds his way to the United States. The show serves as a sequel to the widely adored BBC show Toast of London, which ran for three seasons from 2012 to 2015, also depicting the absurd misadventures of Matt Berry’s Steven Toast.
In addition to Berry’s success as a comic actor, he is also no stranger to the world of music, having released nine solo albums since 1995 including Opium (2008), Witchazel (2011) and The Blue Elephant (2021). An instrumental of the song “Take My Hand” from Witchazel was used as the main theme for Toast of London. Berry has also contributed music to other television shows, such as the Steve Coogan comedy Saxondale, for which he composed all of the music.
“Beatmaker” will be also getting a limited physical release; namely a picture sleeve 7-inch, which will be released in March through Acid Jazz Records. The physical release will also be accompanied by an instrumental B-side of the song.
Last year, Berry released his ninth solo album The Blue Elephant on the 14th of May. On Berry’s Bandcamp page, the album is described as a “testament to Matt’s exceptional musicianship, production skills and songwriting prowess with every instrument played by Matt…This music soundtracks an album that explores themes surrounding today’s close scrutiny in all its bewildering, objectifying and unnerving experiences.”
Sonically, the album carries flavours of ‘70s psychedelic rock, but is undeniably something entirely its own. There is little in the way of imitation or pastiche; it is a detailed and lovingly made record, with heaps of hazy acid-rock atmosphere and creative songwriting. The album can be listened to on all streaming services, and physical copies of the record can be found here on Berry’s Bandcamp page.
