The Beta Band have been one of those artists who have raised our expectations and then continually failed to match them and, to be fair, they’ve always been the first to admit it. ‘Assessment’ sees them take a few steps further to reaching the heights of those first few releases. It sees them go stadium rock, or their version of the genre at any rate, from the first chords of ringing, early U2 style guitars through to a beefy production and brass assisted crescendo. Yet still there’s just something missing and it’s probably a really good tune. Close then, but the waiting goes on.