The Beta Band

In a time when it seems groups are being forced to put out full-length albums with more songs than good ideas, the Beta Band's The Three E.P.s puts together three out-of-print EPs and reminds us of the value of that long-neglected format. No room for self-indulgent extraneous songs here. Each one of the three, Champion Versions, The Patty Patty Sound and Los Amigos Del Beta Bandidos, is a perfectly-formed condensed collection of four songs; together, they point to a firecracker of talent ready to explode. Reminiscent of Gomez's Bring It On in its American roots music-inspired sound, the first Stateside release from this Scottish indie favorite showcases the band's diverse range of influences from Muddy Waters to the KLF. Stephen Mason's delicious breathy voice and bluesy acoustic/slide guitar work combine perfectly with the bass and the occasional harmonica to form killer tunes like the opening "Dry the Rain" and "Needles in My Eyes." Calling to mind Beck, the eclectic pastiche effect of songs like "The House Song," which mixes a snaking bass line over turntable scratching and sampling, keeps to the lo-fi sound. All in all, a heady brew of swamp music from the land of lochs.