CD Review

Where The Beta Band’s last album,2001’s Hot Shots II, focused on minimalism with creeping, descending chords, the Scottish sample friendly quartet set out for a deeper challenge this time around. Blending their dynamic live element and blended it with rugged studio know how, The Beta Band hoped to acheive stellar hi-fi. Heroes To Zeros, their self produced third album, might just rid them of their low-key beatnik association, with this aggressive rock effort.

The twelve track effort opens with “Assessment,” an echo ringing guitar anthem that, when blended with Stephen Mason’s dreamy vocals, is 80’s new-wave gone sonic, amidst the song’s lyrical distaste for Tony Blair. The band’s break-beat tendencies roar in “Space,” which unlike its stoner title, packs immediate focus with a raw, live dynamic. The psychedelic funk of “Easy,” with its jittery clavinet riff and dance groove, signals a fresh turn for the band, allowing for a certain future remix hit. In tunes like “Wonderful” and “Troubles,” the band proves they can still create their signature down tempo folk over hypnotic orchestrated beats. “Out-Side” mixes tribal beats with a plethora of random effects leading into the trippy organ-led number “Space Beatle, ” proving that there are still no rules for a Beta Band recording.

With short films planned for each of these 12 tracks planned, The Beta Band remains full of clever ideas to further capture their live element to the transferable media. Heroes To Zeros is a culmination of the band’s no formula approach, hitting mission accomplished.