Pitchfork

The Beta Band have never been pleased with their producers. In a Chicago hotel room in 1999, they bitched to me about Chris Allison's work on their 3 EPs and self-titled debut, claiming they'd aimed for a more direct 60s feel than the beautifully sloppy, electronics-infused results. Colin "C-Swing" Emmanuel's work on Hot Shots II was better, but its folky Scottish hip-hop arguably set them in too-conventional surroundings. So, contrary to rumors that Nigel Godrich would be producing (he is, in fact, mixing), they've gone it alone on the forthcoming Heroes to Zeroes.

"Assessment", the album's debut single, is our first taste of the band's first fully self-realized production, which they've proclaimed will return them to the sound of their early EPs. Judging from this track, that's not entirely true, but it's close: The song ushers back the spirited enthusiasm of The Beta Band's earlier work, but it also lends the focus they gained with Hot Shots II. In other words, where Hot Shots II frequently sounded stilted and too carefully considered, "Assessment" lets go with the unbridled exhilaration The Beta Band built their good name on: Opening with Steve Mason's silvery tenor shining through a shimmering mass of highly reverbed guitars and a walking percussion line, the song eventually winds into a brief drum-and-chimes breakdown before snapping back in line with an adamant, celebratory conclusion, driven by a pummeled rhythm section and a mass of triumphant guitars and horns. The question now is whether they can keep this up for the duration of an entire album without boring themselves to tears or wandering off into whimsical experimentation. Either way, I can't wait.