Beta Radio - Year of Love (2021) Hi-Res

Beta Radio excels at maximizing the allure of selective harmony. Their songs feature lead vocals that are more than pleasing; there is a charisma to the voice that demands and commands the attention of listeners. By itself, the lead voice would carry the song and create a fan base for Beta Radio. Then, a single line in the lyrics, or perhaps only a portion of a line, introduces the harmony and bring a warmth to the song and the listener. The harmony exits as quickly as it enters, but soon returns for another brief appearance.

“Year of Love” showcases the vocals and judicious harmonization of Beta Radio. The lyrics are included in this post, with the harmony indicated by italics. The first six lines are a single voice. Even after you’ve heard the song often enough to know that a second voice is ahead, there isn’t an urgency to hear the harmony. But after the first six lines have generate contradicting lyrical concern and melodic calmness, there is another layer of charm in “I thought that any other way.” That charm reappears two lines later, but this time for only a portion of the line.

The attractiveness of “Year of Love” extends beyond the vocals. The guitar brings a serenity and the strings (synth?) carry a quiet sophistication. Brilliantly, the strings fade at 1:45, giving a false impression that the song is ending before the harmony suddenly awakens with a processing that increases the lushness of the single. The lyrics are also praiseworthy.