The Beta Band

The Beta Band was a Scottish musical group which marked her own style as Folktronic, which is a mixture of folk, rock 'n ' roll, Trip Hop and unrestrained experimental jamming.

History

The Beta Band was founded in 1996 near Edinburgh by the musicians Steve Mason (vocals, guitar) and Gordon Anderson. The two originally planned to name their band The Pigeons, but later changed their minds. When she co-authored songs for their debut EP, Champion Versions, clashed with Robin Jones ( drums) and John MacLean (DJ, sampler, keyboard pianist ), two other members added. Shortly after she signed to Regal Records / Parlophone, Anderson became ill and decided to leave the band. Later, he released his own recordings under the name Lone Pigeon. The remaining band members then brought added Richard Greentree (bass) and thus strengthened their band line-up. In July 1997 they released the EP produced by Nick McCabe Champion Versions, by critics mainly as a result of the innovative " cut and paste " - was cheered sample concept. Two similar EPs soon followed: The Patty Patty Sound in March of the following year, and Los Amigos del Beta Bandidos in July. All three appeared in September 1998 under the title The Three EP's selected in a collection.

They took the work on its ambitious first long-term recording for which they The black hole and Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" based inspiration from sources as diverse as the Jamaica Reggae, the Disney production. The album simply titled The Beta Band Its first song, " The Beta Band Rap " was released in July 1999., Managed the band's history through rehearsed changed " bubbelgum Pop ", rap and rockabilly to tell background tracks. Thus he represented the rest of the album, which was perceived as stylistically diverse than the first EPs. The middling opinion of the press changed by going to the negatives after the band announced their own dissatisfaction with the album. The band claimed that the unreasonable deadline and the budget scarcely measured 've prevented from refining their improvisations to be in harmonious songs.

The band dedicated to the studio with the intention to prove anything. The result of this session was the 2000 released single " To You Alone" / " Sequinsizer ". It was taken with pleasure in receiving as a return to the prevailing style of The Three EP's.

At this time the beta band was in the movie High Fidelity mention, which is based on the book Nick Hornby. In this film, called the main character, a record store salesman (played by John Cusack ), the band name, while about a minute of the song "Dry the Rain" can be heard in the background. This gave the band a broad base of new fans, particularly in the USA. Soon it was "Dry the Rain" the most popular song of the band, what Mason later took the occasion to remove him from the song repertoire of live performances.

There was a hiatus in the Mason some boards under the name " King Biscuit Time" published. Gradually, the band turned back to the studio; this time, the English producer C -Swing was commissioned to oversee the process. The album Hot Shots II, released in the spring of 2001, was able to please both the critics and the fans. Much of the experimental style of the first album was sacrificed in favor of a more " popgemäßen structure ". On schedule released three more singles, each of them with different B-sides and alternate versions: " Broke " / " Won ", " Being Human " and " Squares". The band held further a long tour in support of their album.

A new single, " Assessment", was released on 12 April 2004 followed by the album Heroes to Zeros and the second single " Out - Side" in July.

On 2 August 2004, the band announced on their official website surprisingly announced their separation. Their farewell tour began in November 2004. They gave her last concert on December 5, 2004 in Edinburgh.

On 3 October 2005 the band released a double DVD entitled The Best of The Beta Band. This contains most of the videos of the band, a selection of short films, television reports, documentaries, and four live songs, recorded during their farewell tour with an appearance on 29 November 2004 in London are in addition to DVD was released on the same day a best of album ( the Best of the Beta Band ) on which the complete concert from London is heard.

Since the separation Steve Mason continues to work on his solo project King Biscuit Time. Robin Jones and John Maclean formed The Aliens, with Gordon Anderson ( Lone Pigeon ). Richard Greentree also plays with Robin Jones of The General and Duchess Collins.