2 out of 2 offers for Hot Shots II - Beta Band (The)
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Hot Shots II
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 ...
Hot Shots II - Beta Band
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 ...
3 out of 3 similar offers for Hot Shots II - Beta Band (The)
Hot Shots II - Beta Band
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 second album proper, Hot Shots II shows 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 their self-titled 1999 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
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'.
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 "The BetaBand" 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 it is too...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great snapshot of a great indie band Disadvantages: not heard enough to be appreciated
...an incidental appearance on the film starring John Cusack, 'High Fidelity' (adapted from the Nick Hornby novel of the same name). The scene goes along the lines that "I will now sell five copies of The Three EPs by The BetaBand" and plays a minute or so of the song. This opened up opportunities but with their unique style the mainstream never took to this fabulous band.
Near misses
The BetaBand was, certainly in my eyes, an unconventional indie band. That's not to say that they wanted to be that way, I have read numerous interviews with Steve Mason who claimed that they wanted more people to hear their music. You have to feel some kind of sympathy when you hear the story of their proposed first single of album #2 'HotShotsII' entitled 'Squares' featured a well timed sample but turned out that a one hit wonder band named I Monster...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
very helpful 26.03.2008
Beta Band Review ofThree EPs, The - BetaBand (The)by
whoareyou5
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...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
helpful 22.02.2001
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