They came upon the scene with a lot of hype, at least in the UK, and their debut album didn’t live up to expectations. The Beta Band’s second full-length release is a quantum leap forward in their musical development. Hot Shots II is incredibly eclectic, with doses of dreamy trip-hop, pop, folk, psychedelica and reggae. The arrangements are tighter and more sparse than their first CD, but still have that Beta Band eccentricity and innovation. Make sure to stick around for the last track on the CD, “Won”, which is a hip-hop version of the Harry Nilsson song “One”. Hot Shots II is only the beginning for a band with a bright future and enormous potential.
Web Link: http://www.astralwerks.com/betaband/
Perry Farrell – Song Yet To Be Sung
The former Jane’s Addiction and Porno For Pyros lead singer has delved into electronica on his solo debut. There are still plenty of guitar riffs on Song Yet To Be Sung, but drum and bass takes the musical center stage. Farrell has always been a chameleon, so his foray into electronica is not surprising, and no matter what type of music it is, his instantly recognizable voice is always the star of the show. Farrell's Jane's Addiction bandmates Dave Navarro (guitar) and Stephen Perkins (drums), and Porno for Pyros bassist Martyn LeNoble all make guest appearances as well. It’s an interesting collection from an always interesting artist.
Web Link: http://www.perry-farrell.com
The Fixx – Missing Links
The Fixx were one of the first new wave groups in the early 80’s, and they’ve managed to stay together for over 20 years. Originally released in Europe back in 1994, this rarities CD is finally available in the US, and with 2 additional songs that were not on the European version. Missing Links is a combination of unreleased tracks and remixes of hits such as “Stand or Fall” and “Red Skies”. Fans of The Fixx will definitely want to add this CD to their collection.
