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View (CD Review)
by Dw. Dunphy
MusicTap.net
Published July, 2004

Bryan Beller is a good bass player. I mean, really good.

He rolls from a true blue jazz number to some freeform noodle-stuff to an all-out rocker and you pleasantly let him take you along. No problem, Mr. Beller. I’m right behind you. On his debut solo disc View, you get a mostly instrumental recording that doesn’t get so pretentious and overwrought that you find yourself marveling at the technique against the merits of the music. And just when you had it figured out, another change throws you, specifically the roaring track "Bite." It is this lack of rigidity that made the CD very refreshing in that each step along the way felt like a spur-of-the-moment decision, yet there was enough confidence in talent that it didn’t matter.

The tracks "Bear Divide" and "No" are simply solo bass (both acoustic and electric performed by Mr. Beller) and while both are acutely proficient in the playing aspect, neither really find Beller wallowing in the solo spotlight. I can only imagine how badly a solo bass disc could sound as a paean to conceit – "I am a golden God of the bottom end!"

Forget about it. View is a great kind of 'turn it up at home on the good stereo, turn up the bass level and go for a ride' sort of disc. If this sounds vague, you'll just have to get it and see what I mean.

Click here to see the review as posted at MusicTap.net.

© 2002-2004 Matthew Rowe. All rights reserved.

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