Alpha Beta Gamma - Bitmap

Advantages: Brilliant sound design. Excellent mix (Nigel Godrich). Good melodic and harmonic content.
Disadvantages: Very difficult to find any. There's only one weak track -05 - Mike Mills.

...For me at the moment - there's only two names in chillout - Zero 7 and Air. It would be unfair to compare the two - as the styles are completely different - but there is something about Air that places them above everyone else. This album is probably their best work so far - as it has finally gotten rid of the slightly cheesy numbers that plagued some of their earlier work. Listening to Air should be an experience - but also - the essence of chillout is that it doesn't become too intense. The great thing about this album - is that one can probably listen to it in almost any situation. I certainly can. There are a number of really excellent songs on this - including 'Cherry Blossom Girl' ,'Run', 'Surfing On A Rocker', 'Alpha Beta Gaga' (from the O2 advert) and the exceptional 'Alone In Kyoto' from the Lost In Translation soundtrack... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: fantastic overall sound
Disadvantages: fades into the background of your awareness

...definitely have an interesting Japanese feel to them. I'm looking forward to hearing more Air, and if you're new to the genre as I am, I think you will too, if a chilled out backround ambiance is what you're looking for. good luck! Tracks on the album: 1. Venus - 4:04 2. Cherry Blossom Girl - 3:39 3. Run - 4:12 4. Universal Traveler - 4:22 5. Mike Mills - 4:26 6. Surfing on a Rocket - 3:43 7. Another Day - 3:20 8. Alpha Beta Gaga - 4:39 9. Biological - 6:04 10. Alone in Kyoto - 4:50... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: More concise, laid back Beta Band
Disadvantages: Less of the trademark sound-scapes

...With their second album proper, Scottish four-piece The Beta Band show that the excitement generated by "The 3 EP's" and "The Beta Band" is well placed indeed. From the moment the album opens with the brilliant single "Squares" you get the feeling the band had a much clearer idea of what they wanted to achieve with this record. Still lying somewhere between Sigur Ros and Radiohead, the Beta-boys still made here a truly original piece. The songs have the form which seemed missing from previous records, boiling down the million ideas they must of had to bring the listener the finest completed piece without sparing the integrity. Across all Beta Band albums you could pick off fantastic songs, with "Hot Shots II" you really feel at the end you've been on a journey. A sign of a great full length album. A strange sort of journey it is too... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful