A REVEREND in a church – who would have thought it! But this is no ordinary reverend and to be honest, this is no ordinary church because it’s St Mary’s – better known to gig and theatre-goers alike as the Colchester Arts Centre.

And the reverend is a certain Matt Simpkins, one quarter of the hugely popular Colchester band Fuzzface, and the son of a vicar no less.

Ever since an album launch gig at St Peter’s Church, in North Hill, Colchester, there has been an underground buzz surrounding Matt’s solo project – he’s an ex-Oxford music student and currently teaches the subject at the Colchester Institute.

As well as the St Peter’s gig, the band has played at St Martin’s, in West Stockwell Street, (I see a church theme developing here) and done several sets in London. But it’s the reviews he’s been getting for the album, Babbler and Crow, which have been setting certain circles of the national music press alight, commenting on its unique mix of folk in the style of Nick Drake and John Renbourn, pop song-smithery in the tradition of the Kinks and Blur, and the freak blues of Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits.

“It all started with a desire to write simple pop songs that had a story,” Matt explained.

“I’m not interested in any one genre, I’m just interested in great music. A very kind person said the music sounds like it is the sound of me, but actually it’s a mixture of all the stuff I have done before, for example, there’s a touch of classical from my time at Oxford.

“Actually I’m quite obsessed with classical music and like to get in references whenever I can.”

The distant strains of Mahler’s 9th symphony in Matt’s homage to his home town of Colchester, St Helena Came to Me, being a fine example.

“I hear the music first, not in terms of chords, but more the melody and the basslines,” Matt said. “I’m sure most people have had a melody pop into their head from time to time and that’s what happens with me.”

Except Matt then writes them down.

“I try to write the lyrics at the same time,” he added, “and sometimes it’s the titles that develop the song.”

Such as Lucifer Rag, a classic blues number except with an English twist involving an encounter with the devil, personified by a cricket fast bowler.

For the last few months, Matt has been meticulously compiling scores for his brass backing group, which he has put together specially for the arts centre gig, and over lunch he proudly shows me the reams of paper that he has composed.

He said: “I’m really excited about it. We have a french horn, bass trombone and trumpets, at least eight people in all and I decided because it was such a special event, I would write down the scores for the brass section.

“I’ve never done a gig with the same line-up, so every time you see us, it’s different.”

Certainly his next show at the Colchester Arts Centre on May 1 promises to be the reverend’s most ambitious and colourful to date, with his Phantom Notes and the brass band.

Matt said: “Colchester Arts Centre is one of my favourite places and has to be the best music venue in the town.

“To be booked by them personally feels like we are building up a head of steam.

“The idea now is to get a good single out there, which hopefully will get us a record deal, and then the second album will be out in the summer.”

Work has already started in earnest on that, with bold and bizarre arrangements of the reverend’s peculiar parables and eccentric tales being penned.

l Rev Simpkins and the Phantom Notes play the Colchester Arts Centre on May 1.

Tickets priced £6 are available from the arts centre box office on 01206 500900, or online at www.colchesterartscentre.com