Black Gold, is therefore something of a mixed blessing – a great piece of music that merely hints at what might have been.  Full text...

"Black Gold" is a fine, fine record and undoubtedly the greatest thing he's ever done.  Full text...

This is electronic music made in the garden shed and psych-folk still connected to the twitching wires of modernity, and all the better for it.  Full text...

With Black Gold it’s certainly a case of ‘what’s not to like?’, because it easily straddles different genres, making them work together as if they’ve always been the best of friends.  Full text...

The single CI Am 15 misfires by bolting on a Topcat toast which only exposes Mason's vocal effeteness, an inward, over-dubbed croon better suited to the album's several brown studies. A separate disc of instrumental versions invites still deeper contemplation of one's mauve and umber moods.  Full text...

Kwangchow and the tough Paperhead are pretty fine, but Beta fans might well prefer the Aliens, his former bandmates’ excellent new project.  Full text...

There's nothing here which really shows any progress from what The Beta Band were doing - you'd be forgiven for thinking that they had reformed under a different name - which leads us to think that maybe it's one for the real fans; however, it's an accomplished enough album and worth a listen if you already know and like the sound.  Full text...