Reviews    Darediablo - Bedtime Stories (Ear Meat Records)
by Chris Barnes

I usually don't like instrumental albums because, quite frankly, they really bore me.

But NY's Darediablo... man, these guys are on to something. Three guys, two parts jazz didactic, two parts rock n' roll stirred up right with some burnin' creativity and innovation makes for a helluva listen.

It also helps that keyboard guru Matt Halford plays both the Rhodes Piano and Hammond B-3...or something that sounds like 'em anyway. I'm a sucker for both of those vintage sounds. Holford looks like he could kick all of our asses too, but you know he wouldn't hit you. The fingers man, the fingers.

It's also interesting that Jake Garcia plays both guitar and bass and both of them more than proficiently. I don't know why, but Garcia gives me that John McLaughlin vibe - jazzy, slightly proggy, slightly rock, calling on the magic powers of any one of those depending on song, mood and time signature. Check out what he's doing in "Gonna Make You Squirm Like a Baby Worm"... lawdy momma! Drummer Chad Royce also is talented in multiple areas, calling on the ghosts of Buddy Rich and George Hurley (wait...I think George is still alive) in equal measure.

The more I listen to this, the more I really love this thing... rocking, intricate, innovative, complex, emotional. Everything good about Darediablo comes to a head in the awe-inspiring "Shipping & Handling". Oh man.... Not that everything before that isn't exceptional, it's just that "Shipping & Handling" is one of those rare musical pieces that makes you scream out "Fucking A! these guys good!" even if no one is there.

Great release, especially if the same ol' same ol' has got you down.


Purchase Darediablo's Feeding Frenzy or Bedtime Stories at the Hellride Music Superstore

Download an MP3 of Feeding Frenzy or Bedtime Stories or

Read the Hellride Music interview with Darediablo

Visit the Darediablo website at www.darediablo.com

Copyright 2002 HellrideMusic.com
Review by Chris Barnes 11/12/02