The Beta Band

Genres:	Pop / Rock
Descriptive "tags":	indie • indie rock • alternative • rock • electronic • scottish • experimental • indie pop • trip-hop • electronica
Decades Active:	1990s • 2000s
Links online:	BBC Music • Fan Page • MusicMoz • Official Homepage • Wikipedia

Biography

Steve Mason (vocals), Gordon Anderson (guitar), John Maclean (keyboards/samples), Steve Duffield (bass) and Robin Jones (drums) formed this highly acclaimed UK art rock band while studying at college in Edinburgh, Scotland in the mid-90s. They teamed up with Oasis associate Brian Cannon and began building a strong word-of-mouth reputation. Produced by Nick McCabe of the Verve, the band’s debut EP Champion Versions was released in July 1997. The EP’s four tracks set the standard for future releases, revealing an approach to record production far removed from the pop-based format of most indie music. An eclectic mix of alternative and Krautrock styles with ambient dub and samples, the band’s sound eschewed conventional music categories in preference for a bold, experimental approach.

By this point Anderson and Duffield had left the band, with the former’s mental illness forcing him into a mental institution (he later...

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