Hot Shots II Hot Shots II [Regal]

The playfully cinematic title Hot Shots II perfectly describes the newly found sense of fun and purpose in the Betas camp. While their eponymous debut meandered off in tedious tangents, this refreshing follow up contains no more than ten tracks with very few wandering over the four minute mark.

The controversially aborted single and opening track ‘Squares’ sets the scene for the Beta sonic renaissance. “I’ve seen the demons/But they didn’t make a sound,” intones Steve Mason in his best stoned choirboy drawl. A lovely lilting arrangement that purloins equally from Portishead and The Stone Roses.

The most remarkable achievement of Hot Shots II is that it is totally, terrifically pop – but without making any cheesy compromises to the Beta’s spaced aged indie sound. R‘n’B producer C-Swing was a superb choice, injecting the catchy grooves with a subtle swing virtually unheard of in white boy English alternative music as we know and loathe it.

‘Gone’ is all dewy eyed and reflective, revealing the tender side to the BB’s whacked out majesty. Hot Shots II gallops towards the end with perfect track after perfect track, culminating in the cracking ‘Life’ and hilarious parting shot ‘Eclipse’.

After overdosing on such a technicoloured pop treat for the umpteenth time, the only option left is to press play again and again and again...