The Beta Band
The Three EPs

THE REVIEW

Refined melodies and exquisite vocal harmonies, from melancholic sources to joyful endings. This is the effective Indie/Low-Fi offered in the collection "The Three E.P.'S" by the Beta Band, a reissue released a few years ago on Regal Recordings. An array of classical and traditional instruments, such as the double bass, organ, trumpet, harmonica, and piano, which harmoniously and quietly integrate into the 12 compositions, often also infused with sounds recorded outdoors. The reverberated voice and choirs are the strong point, the most compelling attraction of The Beta Band, while the rest is a pleasing melodic accompaniment, very well-crafted, yet always essential and minimalist. The best tracks are undoubtedly the last four, those from the E.P. "Los Amigos Del Beta Bandidos" released in 1998: "Push It Out," with its fresh vocal experiments (try it yourselves), is undoubtedly one of the most representative pieces of B.B., as equally beautiful are the acoustic guitars in "It’s Over," originally recorded on Stephen Mason's home four-track, and the instrumental arrangements in "Dr. Baker," once again marked by the intense lyrics of the singer S. Mason. Few but good are the loops and samples by J. McLean. The four Scots apparently are not only brilliant musicians but also excellent directors of their own videos, which have become an integral part of their live shows. An eccentric and nonconformist artistic spectrum, difficult to classify with just one adjective, and given their insatiable experimental talent (their latest release "Hot Shots 2" is very different and more electronic), they are transitioning to new and futuristic sounds that will surely surprise us. An album that could have been co-produced by Badly Drawn Boy and Belle & Sebastian. djd