Hot Shots II is like a step back in time to when the wilful eclecticism of Super Furry ... more
Animals and creepy child-like melodies of Talk Talk held sway, a time when everything psychedelic seemed to come infused with Gregorian melancholia. The Beta Band's ...
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Hot Shots IIis like a step back in time to when the wilful eclecticism of Super Furry ... more
Animals and creepy child-like melodies of Talk Talk held sway, a time when everything psychedelic seemed to come infused with Gregorian melancholia. The Beta Band's second album proper,Hot Shots IIshows exactly why bedsit boys like Radiohead love 'em. It has soul, imagination and a most welcome inclination to gently experiment in found sound, while retaining a completeness lacking from theirself-titled1999 release. "Gone" swirls and eddies with wistful abandon, "All Sharp" utilises a tingly toy piano, while "Alleged" could be mistaken in a dim light for an acoustic track from Beck, a damn fine one at that. Then these four recalcitrant Scots boys throw in some raw temperate beats on "Broke" and some delirious three-part Beatles-esque harmonies on the closing, confusing "Eclipse", two tracks that straddle the middle ground between Kraftwerk and Jools Holland's "Later With..." and show with disconcerting ease that they're still lakes ahead of the opposition. --Everett True
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Advantages: More concise, laid back Beta Band Disadvantages: Less of the trademark sound-scapes
With their second album proper, Scottish four-piece The BetaBand show that the excitement generated by "The 3 EP's" and "TheBetaBand" 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 BetaBand albums you could pick off fantastic songs, with "HotShotsII" 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 ...
Advantages: A superb album, very catchy, entertains throughout Disadvantages: Still Tragicly underrated
It seems strange that its been a couple of months since my last music review. So to get myself back into music reviews again I?ve decided to go for a recent addition to my music collection. The third album from, The BetaBand. They are one of the best kept secrets in the country, that in fact everyone will probably have heard at some point. I?m sure your probably wondering how that?s possible, well they appear on a number of soundtracks. Most notably one of the main tracks on Trigger happy TV was by The BetaBand and they also get a mention in High Fidelity.
Coming out of Edinburgh they have risen slowly with 2 previous albums and a collection of their EP?s. It?s the appearance on Trigger Happy that really brought them to my attention and inspired me to seek out some music by the band. Although they receive a lot of coverage they seem ...
Advantages: Touches your emotions Disadvantages: None
Citing influences ranging from the decidedly serious Martin Sheen to the asinine Chevy Chase to funkmaster Bootsy Collins, the BetaBand is a delight. This aptly titled compilation of three separately released EPs is sure to leave music fans scratching their collective head while trying to define this Scottish band's intricate aural hodgepodge. The BetaBand makes a very distinct and exciting impression. There's the unusual coupling of acoustic guitar, horn, sampled beats, and a catchy refrain on "Dry the Rain"; the hypnotic instrumental "B+A"; and "She's the One," which opens with a chaotic, hippyish drum circle that segues first to an anthemic chorus and then to a highly processed breakdown complete with a Jew's harp. The Three EPs will dominate the CD player, becoming somewhat of an obsession, with each listen revealing some brilliant ...
Product Information for "Hot Shots II - Beta Band (The)" »
Product details
Title
Hot Shots II
Performer
Beta Band (The)
Genre
Rock & Pop
Release Date
16/07/2001
Recomended Retail Price
16.99 GBP
Original Release Year
2001
Label / Distributor
Regal / EMI Operations/CEVA Logistics
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Format
Performer
EAN
724353379421
Catalogue Number
REG 59CD
Additional notes
Album Notes
Second album of genre-hopping experimentation from the Beta Band. After describing their own debut as "the worst album of the year" when it was released in 1999, this record sees them back on track and working with R&B producer C-Swing. Includes the single 'Broke'.
Titles on disc 1
1.
Squares
2.
Al Sharp
3.
Human Being
4.
Gone
5.
Dragon
6.
Broke
7.
Quiet
8.
Alleged
9.
Life
10.
Eclipse
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
02/06/2005
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