Beck Hansen, as we’re all well aware, is no one trick pony. Having leapt from the mangled folk of his breakthrough record, ‘Mellow Gold’, to the oddly eclectic, strangely appealing ‘Odelay’ - experimental funk and electro textures included - almost two decades ago, he has continued to allow his mind to wander.
His latest release, ‘Morning Phase’, follows the ambitious ‘Song Reader’ project and frequents the warmth of perhaps his best effort, 2002’s ‘Sea Change’, while leaving behind its reflective, heavyhearted mood.
Heart Is A Drum, with its sweet melody, and the swaggering Say Goodbye go against the grain somewhat, particularly considering the dreamy, atmospheric sonics reverberating around opener Morning and Unforgiven.
Blue Moon, one of several songs rolled out prior to the album’s release, harbours a desperate feeling of solitude despite its rousing chorus. Beck is “so tired of being alone", acknowledging the “lies you tried to hide, behind your eyes”.
Elsewhere, the familiar, tender folk of Turn Away hints at Simon and Garfunkel, while Beck’s tortured tones resonate eerily across the expansive orchestral plains of the excellent, emotional Wave. Beautifully crafted and at times deeply personal, ‘Morning Phase’ marks a triumphant return for one of the few originals we have left to us. It might even prove to be Beck’s finest work to date.
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