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Praise for "Sleeping Pill Mannequin"

Imagine if Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett hadn't melted down but developed into an accomplished multi-instrumentalist/solo artist. Meet Matt Leonard Price. This British acoustic guitarist/pianist/poet, best known for his work with band Harrison in the 80's, presents a movingly heartfelt little disc full of gentle gems. Sleeping Pill Mannequin does not rock, but it's far from slumber inducing. Prepare to be intimately charmed. 13.5/16 [very good] (Progression, No 62, Autumn 2011)

The music's prog leanings are very reminiscent of King Crimson and Yes, especially in the keyboard and guitar work. It's hard to deny that Matt Leonard Price is a good musician. He is exceptional at the piano and keyboards. This is very evident on the title track where he lays down a great keyboard solo that is perhaps the highlight of the album. (Sea of Tranquility, 2011)

Praise for "Source of Wonder"

Anyone missing the gentle, pastoral musings of Syd Barrett or Nick Drake will surely warm to the second self-produced outing from this singer-songwriter. There's an ever-so-English quality running through serenely paced nylon string and piano-led songs on offer, comprising 11 originals plus a resetting of lines by A E Housman. The title track showcases the cracked vulnerability of Price's voice, 'Short Lived' conjures the more focused moments of The Incredible String Band, and 'Sister Eva' revives the more contemporary spirits of Blur and Paul Weller. If Ratty and Mole went boating through Virginia Water in 1967, this would be on the portable Dansette.
(Acoustic, No 44, August 2010)

MLP (if that is how we should abbreviate him) plays a singer-songwriter style with guitar and piano, plus a bucket of restrained background instruments from accordion to old school Hammond organ... the whole thing making a lovely, fairly quiet but never bland parade of intelligent music. People who like well-crafted lyrics and pathos will find plenty to like... A great CD. (Amazon user 2010)

It's difficult to give an accurate description of Matt's work as it's so original. The songs, broadly acoustic and without drums, are honest and heartfelt, moving and entertaining. Some bring tears to your eyes while others put a smile on your face. Matt plays acoustic guitar, piano and keyboards to add to his great voice. (Fatea Magazine, 2010)

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In 1980 at his parents' home — the baby grand was a constant companion

A Life in Music and Words

A positive indication that Matt would have something to offer as a musician and composer came when he entered a regional composition competition open to all ages and won First Prize. He was just 14 at the time. The self-taught pianist then put together a prog rock band in the mid 70s comprising a bunch of talented school friends. All the material was original and they soon became the band of choice for many of the events on the school's social calendar.

Matt's first response from the record industry was at 18 years old when Le Beat Route Records London, impressed by a demo of original songs, sent their agent to Matt's parents' house to discuss the terms of a recording contract. This never came to fruition but, excited by the possibilities, Matt quickly founded a new band which later developed into indie band Harrison who went on to share the stage with one or two well-known bands of the time, such as King.

After a couple of years on the road Harrison received much attention, first from Chrysalis and then CBS, both of whom paid for exclusive studio time and proposed substantial development deals. Harrison's perennial and now highly collectable 45rpm "There is No Refrain" B/W "Simply This" was recorded in Birmingham's Sinewave Studios and cut by Mayking Records as a result of this high level interest, later receiving plays and praise on the John Peel radio show. But some months later Harrison disbanded, with Matt continuing, writing lots of new songs, either in a band context or as a solo artist, and sending a string of demos to A&R departments under the guidance of a newly appointed manager.

With indie band Harrison in the mid 80s

Then came a protracted period of disillusionment and self-doubt where Matt retreated from the world of rock music and spent time studying the keyboard works of J.S. Bach and listening exclusively to classical music - a sort of escape from the music industry which he perceived to have overlooked him. During this time he also set up his own publishing business, got married and started a family. He never stopped composing of course, but much of his output was kept hidden away in the bottom drawer.

More recently however, gaining refreshed confidence and belief, Matt has released a run of CDs via his independent record label Riverhead: "Off The Heap" in 2008; "Source of Wonder" in 2010 (favourably reviewed by the prestigious music magazine Acoustic); and "Sleeping Pill Mannequin" in 2011 (gaining a rating of 13.5 out of 16 - "very good" - in a review by the highly respected US music journal Progression). Matt is currently working on a bunch of new material for his next CD, due for release sometime in 2012.

With Mick Adams, Andy Hill and Pete Bryden at a recent Harrison reunion gig

In addition to his songwriting, Matt has also composed music for stage productions and videos, and has written a short dramatic text performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in October 2004.

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and published poet (Verse, Understanding, Orbis, Poetry Nottingham, Arrival Press hardback anthology), Matt has had airplay on BBC Introducing several times and multiple plays on Birmingham's Radio Wildfire. His latest music and songs draw from his earliest influences in psychedelia and prog rock through Syd Barrett, Jacques Brel and Bowie to Bach, Schubert et al. Literary seeds include Sylvia Plath, A. E. Housman, Ted Hughes, Philip Larkin, Kenneth Graham and Albert Camus.