by Jason AnkenyRetro-futurist pop trio the Aliens reunited three founding members of the cult-favorite Scottish outfit the Beta Band. Singers/guitarists Steve Mason and Gordon Anderson formed the Betas in Edinburgh in 1996. Originally dubbed the Pigeons, the duo added bassist Steve Duffield, drummer Robin Jones, and DJ/keyboardist John Maclean during production on their landmark debut EP, Champion Versions. Soon after completing the sessions, Anderson fell ill and left the Beta Band, subsequently cutting a series of self-released LPs under the name Lone Pigeon, including 28 Secret Tracks, Moses, and Auckley Craw. In the meantime, the Beta Band emerged as darlings of the international music press, culminating in the 1998 release of their classic The Three E.P.'s. Although follow-ups like 2001's Hot Shots II and 2004's Heroes to Zeros enjoyed critical acclaim and consistently reached the upper rungs of the British pop charts, the group was openly critical of its own efforts and played a farewell show in Edinburgh on December 5, 2004. At that point Maclean and Jones resumed their collaboration with Anderson as the Aliens, in mid-2006 releasing their debut EP, Alienoid Starmonica. Eschewing the Betas' dub and trip-hop influences for psychedelia and glam, the record earned a positive critical response and set the stage for the 2007 full-length Astronomy for Dogs.