Steve Mason

As a lead member of cult 1990s favourites The Beta Band, Steve Mason became a darling of the critics, praised for the Scottish group's inventive sonic experiments and psychedelic, indie electronica. The band split in 2004, but Mason went on to take the name King Biscuit to delve into hip hop and melancholic folk on the album Black Gold (2006) for Alan McGhee's Poptones label. He re-emerged under the title Black Affair for the house and techno influenced Pleasure Pressure Point (2008), before working with producer Richard X on the dark, dreamy Boys Outside (2010), released under his own name. Inspired by the London riots of 2011 - which he watched from his flat in Hackney - his follow-up Monkey Minds In The Devil's Time (2013) was a concept record that saw Mason tackle politics, depression and social issues. Stripped down, angry and honest, it was given a 4/5 review by The Guardian and affirmed Mason as an introspective and inventive songwriter.