As the title suggests, this disc collects the first three UK releases by Scotland's Beta Band. Singer/guitarist Stephen Mason, bassist Richard Greentree, drummer Robin Jones, and DJ/tape manipulator John McLean demonstrate astonishingly febrile imaginations over the course of these 12 songs. They pick up and discard ideas with wicked glee and a contagious try-anything-once attitude. Imagine Frank Zappa, Beck, and Robert Wyatt leading the Bonzo Dog Band. Another strong influence appears to be turn-of-the-'70s Pink Floyd. Like such contemporaries as Gomez and Arnold, The Beta Band can leap from the Delta-blues influence of 'Dry The Rain' or the mantra-like 'She's The One' to the funky dub groove of "Monolith" and make the broad stylistic jumps look easy.influence of "Dry The Rain" or the mantra-like "She's The One" to the funky dub groove of "Monolith" and make the broad stylistic jumps look easy.|
Rovi