Matt Dibble - Daytime TV
The first thing that strikes you about multi-instrumentalist Matt Dibble's fifth album "Daytime TV" are the different genres that hit you in the first few tracks itself. It moves from upbeat jazz to mellow pop with some harmonious duets thrown in for good effect.
Album opener 'Get On' has a nice funky piano riff but the voice that accompanies it doesn't compliment the music. He sounds more comfortable on the next track 'Chorus Unplayed' where he is in perfect harmony with female vocalist Kerry Andrew giving it a nice Simon and Garfunkel feel with minimal instruments. 'Yeah Yeah Yeah' is the jam track of the album, while title track 'Daytime TV' is my pick of the 10-track disc because of its catchy Britpop hook.
Now Dibble is a freelance musician who does gigs around London with his band. They perform a range of covers and originals and have four albums and an EP to their credit. Like this album, all the others have been self-produced by Dibble.
I heard the entire album while chatting with a friend and I didn't realise when the album got over. Yes, it made for a perfect evening chat but not one track made me want to hit rewind. Come to think of it, the album is exactly what a good event musician does: Plays music in the background while the event takes place.
Most of the songs are slow and melancholic, making the album a perfect backdrop to a light dinner, or maybe a little more upbeat jazz night with cocktails flowing at the bar. But there is nothing edgy or different about the album.
It's a combination of jazz and pop but not like contemporary artists like Michael Buble who take old songs and put a new spin on it. He doesn't have the voice for jazz and is clearly more comfortable doing the slower duets, some of which are quite endearing.