Beta Band, The - The Three E.P.'s

What a great release from The Beta Band! Having disbanded in 2004, the Scottish musical group (based in Edinburgh) had received much critical acclaim and even managed to achieve cult status among avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene. Their style was described as being "folk hop", a blend of folk, electronic, rock, trip hop, and experimental jamming.

About the EPs... Champion Versions, their debut EP, was released in July 1997 to critical acclaim, not only for the music, but also for the record's innovative cut-and-paste sleeve design (by John Maclean, member of the Beta Band). Two further EPs followed in 1998: The Patty Patty Sound in March and Los Amigos del Beta Bandidos in July. The EPs were all subjects of widespread critical praise, and all three appeared on the appropriately titled The Three EPs collection in September 1998. And here they are... The Three EPs are the collected tracks from all three EPs, and was released in 1998 on Parlophones own sub-label Regal.

For any Beta Band fan, this is where their talent really shone through! And now these EPs, all of which have now been collected together into this 12 track release with a booklet showing the art work contained on the original EP 12" records, are contained on one CD.

The style is somewhat reminiscent of Primal Scream's Dirty Hits with a touch of Simon and Garfunkel (check Inner Meet Me) and Mogwai like sound experimentation, but only better. Somewhat slow shaker grooves fused with great rock beats, all interlaced with acoustic guitar and well mixed, beautifully hypnotic (and somewhat effected) vocals, this release really holds a summer vibe. Having seen them at Glastonbury Festival in 2002, I couldn't help but feel that their music had really hit that note that the atmosphere of Pilton Festival was tuned to.

Anyway... For anyone checking out the Beta Band, this is the place to start. Chilled out at times, but grooving at others, this is golden music for summer sun filled skies!