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Pete Dale and the Beta Males
Betrayed By Folk
Fortuna Pop
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Article
written by James S
Feb 22, 2006.
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Pete who and the whats? Let me explain. Pete Dale is the godfather of the recently-reawakened North East music scene. As head honcho of lo-fi label Slampt, he introduced Kenickie amongst others to the world, and, via indie Ramones-alikes Milky Wimpshake and agit-punks Red Monkey, he’s produced some damn fine music over the years.
Accordingly, whilst the Beta Males is largely just Phil Tyler, from under-rated local veterans Spraydog, playing a huge range of instruments including violin, trumpet, double bass and mandolin, Dale has also enlisted the help of Barry and Jaff from The Futureheads on three of the tracks.
The album’s title works on two levels; relating to the loose musical style that this ‘collection of topical songs’ falls into, and Dale’s unswerving view that the world is being betrayed by lots of folk every day. This review isn’t long enough to argue the rights and wrongs of the politics contained within, but suffice to say that if Sven knew how left-wing Dale was, he’d be taking him to the World Cup.
The accordion-driven Why I Am A Terrorist lets you know here he stands straight from the off and is followed by the anti-police polemic of I.D.on’t. Saint Bob?! takes an easy pot-shot at Mr Geldof over some horribly under-produced Dixie piano whilst One More Parade is a plaintiff anti-war message written by Dale’s hero Phil Ochs.
If this all sounds a bit too worthy for your liking, there are some lighter moments also. Menwith Hill is a banjo-led ragtime swing with big brass interludes and Talking Newcastle Nuclear Nightmare is a scary true story turned blackly comic fable about the transportation of a warhead “capable of blowing up most of Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland in one fell swoop.” The lightness comes, in case you were wondering, from the way Dale remarks “The football league will never be the same again!”
Okay, so no-one’s pretending that ‘Betrayed By Folk’ is a barrel of laughs but it is insightful, challenging and musically dexterous, thanks largely to the talented Tyler. To emphasise its knowledge of political music marketing it also has a ’pay no more than £6.99’ sticker emblazoned on it. Vote Dale today.
Untitled Document
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