There was a time in 2014 when there was one album playing on loop in my headphones and through my car stereo; Beck’s Morning Phase was one of those landmark musical moments that entered the consciousness and took permanent root. It wasn’t just me, the record was nominated for 5 Grammys and walked away with 3, including ‘Album of the Year’. A combination of haunting lyrics tinged with melancholy and moments of sweeping orchestra, it was widely acclaimed as Beck’s best work in years.
On the back of that, my expectations for his latest release, Hyperspace were understandably, and maybe unrealistically, high. Born in 1970 in L.A. and a veteran of 13 previous albums over a period of nearly 30 years, Beck has proved himself a master of reinvention. He’s a maverick, a chameleon who has never settled to a signature style, instead pulling on a different skin for each new release.
Each album functions almost as a stand-alone work, in the tradition of a classical symphony, comprised of movements varying the same over-arching theme. There are rumours this album is in part a reaction to Beck’s divorce from wife of 14 years, Marissa Ribissi, in February this year and certainly there seems to be a ‘reaching out’ with this being one of his most collaborative endeavours yet. Co-written and produced with Pharrell Williams, whose influence can be perceived throughout, it also features backing vocals by newcomer Terrell Hines, Sky Ferreira and none other than Coldplay’s Chris Martin whose imprint is all over the beautiful track Stratosphere.
True to its title, Hyperspace, an otherworldly theme of the ‘sci-fi’ runs through the album like the name of a seaside town through a stick of rock candy, the ever-present electronic synths transporting you back to another time as effectively as an episode of Stranger Things. And yet the R‘n’B riffs of tracks like See Through and Star are bang up to date. At times, there’s an almost iridescent feel of hope; the whimsical Die Waiting has a real light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel vibe and the opening of title track, Hyperspace, feels like looking back at the Earth through the visor of a spacesuit, although the rapping in this track sits less comfortably.
The stand-out track for me has to be Chemical, which seems to encapsulate all that the album is about.
So, is it up there with Morning Phase? It’s a big ask; Morning Phase is probably in my top 5 of all time but I love this album! Do your ears a favour and give it a go!
Words: Bobby Twidale
Photo Source: DIY