At the time of its release the Beta Band’s debut album proper (3 EPs counting as a compilation album) was famously dismissed by the band themselves as ‘f*cking awful’ and ‘a lifetime’s mistake’.  They claimed they were rushed and put under undue pressure by their record company and consequently the album wasn’t up to scratch.  Whether this was true or whether the Beta Band were trying to diffuse the pressures of the inevitable hype that surrounded the release (due to the brilliance of 3 EPs the Beta Band were the media darlings of the time – the ‘next big thing’) we may never know.  Perhaps they were being too clever for themselves if indeed they were trying to dispel the hype as the album received lukewarm critical praise upon its release and is not currently held in as high esteem as it should be.

However, there are few other albums which come close to the scope covered and soundscapes created on The Beta Band.  Every song is different from the last in style, pace and content and keeps you listening through to the end.  Brokenupadingdong continues the acoustic strum and beats of the 3 EPs; Simple Boy indicates the more electronic, beat driven sound which surfaced on the Beta Band’s second album proper Hot Shots II.  Smiling takes a beat and runs with it – doing things that other bands don’t bother to try or maybe just don’t even think of.  It’s Not Too Beautiful contains magnificent orchestral sweeps and the piano coda of The Hard One could continue forever without losing its appeal.  And The Beta Band Rap is the funniest introduction to an album ever: it sounds like a band having fun, cutting loose and doing what feels good and sounds great while not giving a damn about what anyone else thinks about it – which are exactly the sort of conditions that all the best music should be produced in.

The meaning of the lyrics is often difficult to ascertain, which adds to the enduring allure of the songs.  But clearly the personal demons Steve Mason has faced, and seemingly continues to face with his disappearance following the release of his solo album earlier in 2006, are evident, particularly in Round the Bend.

The Beta Band often gave the aura of being shambolic fools and this facet emerges towards the end of Dance O’er The Border’s Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream aping, stream of consciousness lyrics which stumble into mutters and grunts.  Listening to the record is a rollercoaster for your emotions – you are never quite sure if the whole thing will collapse in on itsself or if it will recover (which it always does with a groove, sample or riff that kicks the whole thing into life again).  But you get the feeling the shambolic effect took a lot of effort to perfect, and that the band were trying very hard to create something new using the same instruments available to everyone else – a feat at which they succeed.  And therein lies the value of this album to other bands:  The Beta Band shows that you don’t need to follow defined and well-worn structures – you can allow the music to take you where it goes and come out with something beautiful and touching.

All these factors contribute to The Beta Band being a bonafide ‘lost classic’ which should be listened to by all aspiring bands as an example of just how inventive and enjoyable music can and should be.

Release date: 01/10/99
Artist website: www.betaband.com
Label: Regal

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