Steve Mason has been releasing records now for more than a quarter-century, hard to believe for an artist who seems forever on the cusp of breaking through. Partly this is due to his relentless changes in direction over the course of his career from the multi-layered psychedelic folk-house of The Beta Band and electro experimentation of Black Affair to his often politically charged solo work. It is also partly due to his penchant for self-sabotage, from calling the first Beta Band album “fucking awful” to retiring just prior to his King Biscuit Time album’s release. Honest about his depression at a time when it was unfashionable to discuss, Mason has never been reluctant to wear his heart on his sleeve. The Kirkaldy-born singer has quietly created a body of work with assorted labels attached – neo-psychedelia, nu-folk, prog-funk – but at its heart it is simple songwriting. To celebrate Brothers & Sisters, Mason assesses his many aliases and releases with RC.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS
(Double Six DS145LPXM, 2LP, gold vinyl, g/f, some editions with postcards 2023, £25)
This story is from the May 2023 edition of Record Collector.
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This story is from the May 2023 edition of Record Collector.
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