Little more than five years ago, the omens were bright for the Beta Band. With the ground-breaking Three EPs compilation behind them and an indie anthem, Dry the Rain, under their belt, a minor case of world domination beckoned.

But if matters didn’t go to form — their first album disappeared without trace — at least the band kept their sense of humour. They ironically titled their fine second album Hot Shots II. This month sees the release of a third: Heroes to Zeros.

Familiar faces around their home town of Edinburgh, the band — John Maclean, Steve Mason, Robin Jones and Richard Greentree — are amazingly still signed, which makes you think that somebody in the upper echelons of EMI has taste.

“The first album does have some brilliant moments on it,” stresses Mason, “but about 80% of it just wasn’t very good. And I slagged it off, so before you know it you have a full-blown crisis on your hands.”

This last comment refers to an interview Mason gave when he described The Beta Band (the first album) as “probably one of the worst records that’ll come out this year”. He readily admits that it was not a smart move. That one slab of vinyl is a millstone the band have had to carry around ever since. It seems particularly cruel given that their subsequent output has been strong.

“The new one’s just so much more alive and passionate (than the first). I don’t think we would have made this album without going through what we did,” says Mason.

A fantastic, focused album, Heroes to Zeros bursts with confidence and sentiment. The first single, Assessment and Out-Side, whips through rich, positive riffs (imagine a cross between the Beatles and the Stone Roses with an anarchic dose of the Super Furry Animals) while the likes of Wonderful and Troubles glisten with a tenderness that Mason’s spaced-out, floating vocals perfectly complement.

“The lyrics are more direct than previously,” considers Mason. “There’s less left to the imagination. There are also more guitars on there,” he adds.

Mason doesn’t hold much with popular opinion, favouring UK hip-hop outfits such as Roots Manuva and the Streets over most modern bands. There’s so much “fake passion” around, complains Mason, “sweaty, amphetamined-up rock’n’roll, which would be cool if it was 1967. But not now.”

By contrast, Heroes to Zeros has passion. It sounds just like the Beta Band always should have.

The Beta Band play Glasgow Barrowland tomorrow

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