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So, if the music industry was Mount Everest and this this was a temporary camp set up near the base
of Beardmore glacier, then Steve Mason aka Black Affair would be Captain Lawrence Oates.
Because last year (as King Biscuit Time) the hard work done, the preparatory tour wrapped, the debut
LP on the shelves Mason clearly thought that this treacherous path was clearly not worth the
effort, exiting the scene remarking "he was just stepping outside, and may be some time".
Or words to that effect. That, we assumed, would be that. Another good one lost to the ravages of
the mountain. But apparently you can't keep a good man down, and by anyone's standards Mason's hit
rate is pretty damn good. Even setting aside the promising beginnings offered by the aforementioned
KBT he was, lest we forget the former lead man of the oft-missed, never-knowingly-bought Beta
Band.
Thankfully, Black Affair is no different. Except, it is different, as befits a fella of Mason's
musical restlessness. It's a dark, processed, slightly cheesy, slightly disturbing melting pot of
things; only some of which should necessarily go together.
But that's always been Mason's knack. Who else would have considered making a fifteen minute lo-fi
instrumental with added animal noises on your second EP. Ok, bad example. But here he goes all out.
This is Mason making a stab at minimal Detroit techno. With added laconic Scottish monotone.
Ah, we hear no one say. Yet honestly, much of Pleasure Pressure Point really works: It Goes
Like This ain't half like The Human League rutting Prince in an empty swimming pool
and the simply joyous Tak! Attack! smacks of someone attempting to cover the Pet Shop Boys
whilst watching hour upon hour of bizarre epilepsy inducing Japanese cartoon.
It's sleek and elegant and weirdly juxtaposed. Any really, really well constructed. That's despite
Mute Me being frankly absurd, and Pills descending into something which sounds like Aphex
Twin battering his face against his Macintosh. There's an unmistakable feel of Pleasure
Pressure Point being made to suit no one except Mason.
Risky as it is to say it, what with his propensity to leave at inopportune moments, it's really good
to have him back. Hereabouts lies a very gallant gentleman. And a flippin' talented artist.
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