Secret Meeting score: 79
by Joseph Purcell
Edinburgh’s Steve Mason has always been capable of brilliance. 2013’s mesmerising Monkey Minds in The Devil’s Time was an extraordinary insight into a musician tackling topics as varied as depression, political turmoil and human nature. While previous album, Meet the Humans, was a perfect mix of madcap pop and unbridled joy. And this is before we throw superlatives at the majestic rolling landscapes that defined the triumphant sound of The Beta Band. But despite his eminent talents, critical acclaim has never quite seemed to translate into commercial success. Fortunately, this does not seem to have deterred Mason who has returned with an ambitious, genre bending opus, and one that sets the bar very high for the rest of 2019.
Opener, America is Your Boyfriend, abounds with a breakneck big band sound that will have you immersed in its madness from the opening moments. A snapping military drumbeat offsets the distorted explosions, before a cacophony of brass sends the chorus soaring.
Rocket, a beautiful soaring number, and one that is in complete contrast to the opener, perfectly exemplifies Mason’s dexterity as a songwriter – and is a track that has the warming familiarity of peak Beta Band. About The Light creeps along with a slow reggae loop and grows with every listen. Lead single, Stars Around My Heart, opens with a lurching break neck disco beat and slinking guitars, somewhere between Saturday Night Fever and Low-era Bowie, before the pomp of trumpets give it a glam stomp. While Walking Away From Love also explodes into a foot stomping, handicapping whrilwind that abounds with fun – despite a few questionable lyrical faux pas.
About The Light is an album that highlights the skill of an often-underappreciated musician. Producer, Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, Babyshambles), helps Mason draws from his arsenal of influences, but ensures that they are brought together in mostly supreme fashion. Not all the ideas excel, and some tracks just seem to miss the mark. But when Mason gets it right, he hits extreme musical peaks.
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