Ghosts Outside

Album review

After flirting with dub-reggae under the alias of King Biscuit Time, Beta Band founding member Steve Mason gives Boys Outside, his first release under his real name, a full-scale Jamaican makeover, with a little help from Matumbi guitarist and esteemed producer (Orange Juice, Madness) Dennis Bovell. Swapping its previous glacial electro-soul sound for a fusion of skank guitars, laid-back riddims, and blistering horn sections, Ghosts Outside sees Mason relegated to backup man on his own record, with the haunting vocals and reflective lyrics that defined the Richard X-produced affair largely restrained to a flurry of vocal loops and repetitive samples. But while it lacks the emotional punch of the original, which heavily alluded to his battle with depression and troubled relationships, its ten tracks (featured in a different order, and with new dub-centric titles) serve up a curious alternative that treats the ghostly melodies and ethereal production with respect, while still providing an authentic dub-heavy experience. Indeed, the initial cuts with the dubby undertones, such as the skittering sci-fi of "Stress Position," the Balearic house of "Yesterday," and the trip-hop-inspired "All Come Down," are left firmly intact, proving that Bovell doesn't need to stamp his mark on everything to prove his credentials. But elsewhere, the British reggae pioneer grasps the opportunity to work his magic, turning the gentle acoustic folk balladry of the title track into a languid slice of Hammond organ-driven lovers rock, layering the Primal Scream-esque acid house of "Lost and Found" with epic reverb-laden brass drops, and eschewing the shimmering guitars and post-rock rhythms of "The Letter" in favor of echo-drenched ska riffs, funky basslines, and lolloping grooves. The whole concept doesn't quite sustain the intrigue throughout, but considering the two very different mavericks on board, Ghosts Outside is a natural and effortless collaboration suggesting that Mason is more than equipped to match the experimental ambitions of his former band.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo