Category: Matte Martin

Matte Martin Paints A Self-Portrait!

Berkeley Cat Records is gleeful to announce the release of Matte Martin’s new Self​-​Portrait EP. A portrait of the artist as a young self, if you will. In Matte’s own words:

This is my first foray into a style I’ve been working on for the past year, combining traditional pop, my off-kilter rock style, and romantic classical music. It is a mix Frank Sinatra and Tears for Fears, with a little Wagner on top.

And as I shared in a recent mewsletter,

Harkening back to a time when people were nice to each other, Matte Martin’s latest offering, “SELF-PORTRAIT,” finds our young troubadour unmistakably in love. Remember love? It still happens to people. Musically expanding his palette to include lush string and horn arrangements, but still deeply committed to The Electric Guitar and rock band sensibilities, Martin plants his flag on a mountain of gentle cinematic beauty, built of both original and cover songs, which we are thrilled and proud to share with you now.

And it’s true. And here it is, via our beloved Bandcamp:

We do hope you enjoy, and stay warm and don’t get soggy in all this muck!

-Eric Din
Berkeley Cat Records Cat Herder In Chief

Christmas Songs?! In Berkeley!?

Why yes, Catalonia, a shiny new Xmas track from Matte Martin is under the tree ready for you to paw and chase about. We at BCR International Head-Living-Room are basking in the glorious Solstice morning as we share, without further ado, the first Christmas or “Holiday” themed Berkeley Cat Record in EVER!! That’s like, a long time – since Caesar thumped the elves, or whatever happened – in the amazing year 4 BCR (four years after the birth of Berkeley Cat Records), MErrrrY Christmaaaas, Happy ALL the holidays, yay, presents, yummy kitty treats and warm winter beverages to ye near and far, in short, CHEERS!!  Thank you, Matte, for this splendid version, just in the St. Nick of time. And nice suit, btw. 🙂

In the words of the Maestro hisself:

My first official cover, first Christmas song, and the first song in a new style that I’ll be exploring over the next year or so, combining traditional pop, my off-kilter rock style, and romantic classical music.
– Matte Martin

Matte Martin: piano, drums, upright bass, vocals, keyboards and programming.
Vince Mazzella: guitar.

Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane.

Cover art illustration by Matte Martin.
Designed by Matte Martin and Summer Swann.

But wait wait wait! More presents! Moar!!! A video (WHAT!?!) Why yes, Baroness. Santa’s feeling groovy and generous.

Amazing, no?  Much love from all of us (including the cows!), and a splendid New Year to you and yours,

Eric Din
Berkeley Cat Records Cat-Herder In Chief

Violent Order – new album hot off the presses from Matte Martin!

We are over the moon excited about this new release from Matte Martin. The lad ensconced himself in his home studio over the last year or so of societal hellfire and lunacy, and has emerged with this self-produced epic. By Interweb magic, it is but a click away in the Bandcamp widget below. If you dig it and buy the download, the dough will go straight to Matte’s own paws and reward him directly for his efforts. Lyrically original and unique, musically adventurous and unexpected at every turn, a brilliant follow-up to 2020’s amazing Bridge LP, we are thrilled to present, Violent Order, available to the entire known universe now on Berkeley Cat Records.

– Eric Din

Matte Martin – Bridge – Full Album!

It’s an exciting Caturday at Berkeley Cat Records. Today we see the full release to the digital wilds of Matte Martin’s Bridge album. This happens to be the first full-length album on our label and I’m very proud to host and distribute it far and widely starting….. now!

This record was composed, performed, recorded and produced by Matte Martin with a little help from his friends. My first thought when I heard this was, “Who knew Kurt Weill and Gentle Giant had a baby and why wasn’t I told?” Bridge is a bold and revelatory musical and lyrical journey.

Give ‘er a spin! You can find this in your favorite streaming service as of nanoseconds ago, or better yet, purchase it directly from the artist at his BandCamp page. Above is an embed of said page. Below, you will find links to said stream-o-nets.

On a personal note, this record touches my heart as it looks unflinchingly at the wreckages we have wrought, while radiating an irrepressible and intentional light. There is love in these tracks. And heartbreak and redemption. And humor and venom, and healing and collapse. I invite you to listen and share!

Thank you,

-Eric Din
Berkeley Cat Records
Cat-Herder in Chief

Listen on Pandora

Listen on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play or Amazon

Matte Martin – Mutilate

Video and single 2 –Mutilate- from Matte Martin’s new album, “Bridge” going live in the streaming services on July 11. We’re so excited to share these previews, and proud to welcome Matte Martin to the Berkeley Cat Records fam! More to come soon about this extraordinary album, produced by the artist himself.