Friday Night of the Broken Man:
All songs written, performed, produced and mixed by Matt Gunston.
Mastered by John Webber of Blue Pro Studios
The following is taken from an Interview with Matt Gunston by Tom Blasco and Gareth Wood (for further information please visit www.mattgunston.co.uk)
Who are you?
MG: Matt R Gunston...
How long has it taken you to get this album to this point?
MG: My first album, Live To See The Day took a few years. Friday Night has taken much less time, as I wrote and recorded it while still working out what it was I was doing from an engineering point of view.
MG: In a nutshell, describe what you play?
I’d say describe Friday Night as acoustic burning rock, with a 70s nostalgia for rock and the blues.
Or do you mean instruments? - sing, guitars and pianos/keyboards, the odd shaker and any other percussion
Who/what has inspired your music?
MG: In particular I love so much of the old sound and styles of music from around the 70's or earlier, artists such as: Bob Dylan, Neil Young, John Lennon, The Band, Van Morrisson, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, The Stones, Johnny Cash, Zeppelin, B.B. King, Sam and Dave, at school me an my friends loved the soul classics, Otis Reading and then you’ve got The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake... it just goes on. Jimi Hendrix etc. These guys told stories, it was far from "pop", they felt it and knew what you were feeling. So in my songs I always try to take a lead from these legends and attempt to get across something that others can relate to. Maybe that life's not as straight forward as you might grow-up hoping. So I've always loved those old songs that let you know that you're not alone, pick you up, and affirm that it’s worth keeping going and sticking together - the story’s always been the same – that’s what I want to, or hope to convey.
How would you describe your second album Friday Night Of The Broken Man?
MG: It’s darker in places, perhaps it’s more gritty than the first. It reflects one of the many lower places you can end up going, like heading up an emotional col-de-sac. But at least once you get to the end, you can only turn around and have to start heading out again, back onto the main road
What makes your music different to others?
MG: I try to write an album, not just a single. It’s probably a bit old-school with downloads growing and file sharing etc but I believe they sill has a place and I hope it doesn’t die out. Some of my favourite songs are album tracks – I fear they could get missed nowadays if only downloading bits and bobs
What are your favourite songs?
MG: Argh, the impossible question! I’d have to agree with a very good friend of mine and say that there would be about 99 songs in my top 5, depending on the time of day, my mood etc. But all those guys I mentioned previously, coupled with more recent bands like: U2, Oasis, Kings of Leon. I didn’t mention Credence Clearwater revival before, another amazing band.
What’s playing on your ipod right now?
MG: Old White Lincoln, The Gas Light Anthem. Great band. Saw them the other weekend.
You’ve recorded most of your album from your bedroom – what have been the most difficult aspects of this?
MG: Just not having the right space or equipment, or not being able to record late into the night or when others are in. I was going to call the first album The Bedroom Recordings, but quickly realised that would be wrong.
Your music production is fairly "traditional" in origin (piano / guitar) what do you feel your music offers for a contemporary world?
MG: I love the basic old school instruments, especially the acoustic guitar at the moment. I picked up an old second hand Seagull guitar a couple of years ago and it sounds beautiful. I love a good old song, a good tune. You can play a Beatles tune on any instrument and it sounds good. I do admire original bands, it’s not easy anymore. Being original and also genuinely good is the stuff of genius.
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