Culture

Rating: B+

In 1993 Beck Hansen released his first album Golden Feelings; 21 years later he remains a quiet force in alternative music. Renowned for his ability to splice different genres into one cohesive vehicle of expression, and his knack for branching out in different directions with each proceeding album, Beck may be the closest thing to a David Bowie of this generation.

Morning Phase marks a return from a six-year hiatus, Beck’s first album since the glowing alternative pop of 2008’s Modern Guilt. Believe it or not, it was around this time that Hansen was unsure of whether or not he had the physical strength to make another record. A spinal injury had left him in constant pain and needing surgery, and even to sing had become taxing on his body. However, he still found ways to stay productive, releasing an album of sheet music titled Song Reader in 2012, and producing albums for the likes of Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stephen Malkmus, and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore.

Recruiting members of the band from his 2002 album Sea Change, Morning Phase definitely feels like a successor of that now celebrated record. It is stripped back, features acoustic guitars, and is comprised of heartfelt alternative folk songs. The drum sounds are crisp and crunchy, his vocals slightly washed out and dream-like. With only slight piano and xylophone flourishes here and there, leaving the focus mainly on vocal melody, words and harmonies.

Lyrically, the songs are considerably more reflective and lucid, far from the collage, mish-mash wordplay featured in Guero or The Information. It features a more content, matured Beck, someone who has come to accept the world around him, delighting in moments of subtle beauty all whilst retaining an undercurrent of melancholy and sadness. “See the sleet that rests upon the quiet street we’re standing on. Is it time to go away and try again some other day?” He croons in the track “Say Goodbye.”

Though songs such as “Blue Moon,” “Heart Is A Drum,” “Morning” and “Waking Light” do offer standout moments, and the album does convey a sense of serenity and comfort, Morning Phase has a tendency to wear itself thin if you’re in the wrong mood. It’s a slow record, and there isn’t much diversity during the 50 minutes between start to finish. Beck’s songwriting is as good as ever and still feels fresh, which is a true feat after two decades of making music. But Morning Phase still feels more like a complementary piece to Beck’s outstanding discography, rather than a highlight.