Matt Berry

Matt talks about owning the original MS20 and now the new MS20 mini

On the back of the Witchazel album is a list of instruments used which says

says the korg polysix was his first synth

In a YouTube video by Korg, Matt Berry discusses his use of the Korg MS-20 synthesizer.

Listed on the back cover of Witchazel and visible in this photo used for the back cover of Music for Insomniacs and the back cover of Music for Insomniacs Part IV. It is also mentioned in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Among Berry’s workhorse synths are his Minimoogs, Korg MS‑20, Prophet 6, ARP Odyssey and Solina, and Roland Jupiter‑4. Meanwhile, in the newer analogue synth department, he’s the proud owner of both Korg’s ARP 2600 FS and KMR’s Antonus 2600, along with the Arturia MatrixBrute. His latest acquisition is a Roland Jupiter‑X, which he clearly loves.

Visible in this May 18, 2015 Amber Creative Ltd interview posted to Facebook and YouTube at 0:50, and in this picture from this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Matt Berry’s Sequential Prophet‑6, Roland Jupiter‑4, Moog Voyager 08 and Yamaha SK15

Mentioned in this November 20, 2015 The Big Issue interview. It was used for “Chic Tweetz”, as specified in the YouTube video description.

The Big Issue, November 20, 2015, "Matt Berry Interview: My Organ Obsession..."

The first time I saw an organ as the lead instrument was The Doors. Ray Manzarek plays so brilliantly, that was a huge influence. So I have a Vox Continental that The Doors and Elvis Costello used; an Italian Farfisa that Jimmy Destri from Blondie plays.

"Chic Tweetz" YouTube video description

Matt Berry-visionary sonic midwife, who birthssoundscapes from another dimension, then lovingly guides their graceful fall to earth atop the gentle whisper of his pulsating, ancient organ (Vox continental organ). & also inner monologue vocal

Mentioned in this March 7, 2011 Roland & Boss TV interview at 4:59. It can also be seen in this picture used for the back cover of Music for Insomniacs.

So, I've got a Promars now, but that's just from seeing them, you know, on like, Top of the Pops as a kid... and a Jupiter-4, I haven't got a Jupiter-8... But yeah, you know, I love their keyboards.

Mentioned in this March 7, 2011 Roland & Boss TV interview at 4:59. It can also be seen in this picture used for the back cover of Music for Insomniacs and this picture from this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview and the back cover of Music for Insomniacs Part IV.

So, I've got a Promars now, but that's just from seeing them, you know, on like, Top of the Pops as a kid... and a Jupiter-4, I haven't got a Jupiter-8... But yeah, you know, I love their keyboards.

Mentioned in this November 20, 2015 The Big Issue interview.

I had been looking for a 1971 Eminent 310 Unique since I was 15. It was the first to have a string section, and about 80 per cent of Jean Michel Jarre’s Oxygène LP was played on one. It has the most luscious string sound ever. One came up for sale a year ago and I got my people on it to make sure no one else bought it.

Mentioned in this May 4, 2020 Twitter post and this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Twitter, May 4, 2020

Phew. Roland Jupiter X is exactly what I wanted it to be. All the major Roland polysynths (convincingly) under one roof. Praise be.

Sound on Sound, December 2020, "Matt Berry"

Among Berry’s workhorse synths are his Minimoogs, Korg MS‑20, Prophet 6, ARP Odyssey and Solina, and Roland Jupiter‑4. Meanwhile, in the newer analogue synth department, he’s the proud owner of both Korg’s ARP 2600 FS and KMR’s Antonus 2600, along with the Arturia MatrixBrute. His latest acquisition is a Roland Jupiter‑X, which he clearly loves.

“It’s gorgeous,” he enthuses. “I’ve got a Juno‑6 and I thought, ‘There’s no way this thing is going to be able to do that stuff and the kind of Jupiter‑8 stuff.’ But it honestly does. I can’t tell the difference. It is basically like having all those early Junos and Jupiters in one synth. I know that sounds like some cod advertising speak, but it is… and that’s what I wanted.”

Visible in this photo used for the back cover of Music for Insomniacs and the back cover of Music for Insomniacs Part IV. It is also mentioned in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Around the same time, Berry began collecting then‑unfashionable analogue synths, picking them up incredibly cheaply through classified ads. “I got a [Yamaha] CS‑60 for 200 quid,” he marvels. “I got a CS‑10 and a load of analogue synths. What was always quite funny was that there’d be things like ‘Jupiter‑8. Will swap for a DX7’. You think, ‘Well, you fucking wouldn’t do that now.’

“But for me it was amazing. I wanted analogue synths because I’d seen Jean‑Michel Jarre surrounded by these keyboards that had loads of knobs, dials and sliders. That was the coolest sound. I didn’t think there was anything cool about a DX7.”

Visible in this photo used for the back cover of Music for Insomniacs and mentioned in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Among Berry’s workhorse synths are his Minimoogs, Korg MS‑20, Prophet 6, ARP Odyssey and Solina, and Roland Jupiter‑4. Meanwhile, in the newer analogue synth department, he’s the proud owner of both Korg’s ARP 2600 FS and KMR’s Antonus 2600, along with the Arturia MatrixBrute. His latest acquisition is a Roland Jupiter‑X, which he clearly loves.

“It’s gorgeous,” he enthuses. “I’ve got a Juno‑6 and I thought, ‘There’s no way this thing is going to be able to do that stuff and the kind of Jupiter‑8 stuff.’ But it honestly does. I can’t tell the difference. It is basically like having all those early Junos and Jupiters in one synth. I know that sounds like some cod advertising speak, but it is… and that’s what I wanted.”

Pictured in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

The old and the new: an Arturia MatrixBrute has earned a place alongside Berry’s Minimoog Model D, digital Mellotron, and two ARP 2600 recreations.

One is visible in this October 2, 2010 photo from Future Music, while two can be seen on the back cover of Music for Insomniacs Part IV. It is also mentioned in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Around the same time, Berry began collecting then‑unfashionable analogue synths, picking them up incredibly cheaply through classified ads. “I got a [Yamaha] CS‑60 for 200 quid,” he marvels. “I got a CS‑10 and a load of analogue synths. What was always quite funny was that there’d be things like ‘Jupiter‑8. Will swap for a DX7’. You think, ‘Well, you fucking wouldn’t do that now.’

“But for me it was amazing. I wanted analogue synths because I’d seen Jean‑Michel Jarre surrounded by these keyboards that had loads of knobs, dials and sliders. That was the coolest sound. I didn’t think there was anything cool about a DX7.”

Mentioned and pictured in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Among Berry’s workhorse synths are his Minimoogs, Korg MS‑20, Prophet 6, ARP Odyssey and Solina, and Roland Jupiter‑4. Meanwhile, in the newer analogue synth department, he’s the proud owner of both Korg’s ARP 2600 FS and KMR’s Antonus 2600, along with the Arturia MatrixBrute. His latest acquisition is a Roland Jupiter‑X, which he clearly loves.

“It’s gorgeous,” he enthuses. “I’ve got a Juno‑6 and I thought, ‘There’s no way this thing is going to be able to do that stuff and the kind of Jupiter‑8 stuff.’ But it honestly does. I can’t tell the difference. It is basically like having all those early Junos and Jupiters in one synth. I know that sounds like some cod advertising speak, but it is… and that’s what I wanted.”

Pictured in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Matt Berry’s Sequential Prophet‑6, Roland Jupiter‑4, Moog Voyager 08 and Yamaha SK15

Visible in this October 2, 2010 photo from Future Music.

Visible in this October 2, 2010 photo from Future Music and mentioned in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Among Berry’s workhorse synths are his Minimoogs, Korg MS‑20, Prophet 6, ARP Odyssey and Solina, and Roland Jupiter‑4. Meanwhile, in the newer analogue synth department, he’s the proud owner of both Korg’s ARP 2600 FS and KMR’s Antonus 2600, along with the Arturia MatrixBrute. His latest acquisition is a Roland Jupiter‑X, which he clearly loves.

Three are visible on the back cover of Music for Insomniacs Part IV, while one can be seen in the May 15, 2013 trailer for Kill the Wolf at 1:27 and in this photo used for the back cover of Music for Insomniacs. They are mentioned in this December 2020 Sound on Sound interview.

Among Berry’s workhorse synths are his Minimoogs, Korg MS‑20, Prophet 6, ARP Odyssey and Solina, and Roland Jupiter‑4. Meanwhile, in the newer analogue synth department, he’s the proud owner of both Korg’s ARP 2600 FS and KMR’s Antonus 2600, along with the Arturia MatrixBrute. His latest acquisition is a Roland Jupiter‑X, which he clearly loves.