With his previous releases generating huge amounts of praise from the likes of BBC 6Music and BBC Newcastle, Newcastle-based artist Pete Beat recently returned to unveil his brand new album ‘Before The War’.
Featuring the previously shared efforts ‘Drinking Lager’, ‘Homesick Night’ and the record’s title-track, the new full-length makes for an incredibly diverse listen. With its nods to electronica, indie-rock and even a twang of 1930s nostalgia, the release marks an extremely adventurous addition to his growing catalogue.
Speaking about the album, he says, “Into a world increasingly mirroring the 1930s comes an album partly inspired by the British dance band sound of that era, but updated for the modern age with electronic production and funky beats.
“In our current age, social media algorithms polarise the population. Dodgy foreign billions pay for election results which benefit the rich and powerful using Facebook ads. Society becomes increasingly unequal. People look for someone to blame, and flawed saviours are only too keen to offer solutions.
“But this isn't a political album. Even in turbulent times we still think about love and life, mental illness, and spending the lockdown summer of 2020 drinking lager in the backyard.”