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Beck Releases Captivating Twelfth Studio Album, "Morning Phase"

by: SteveKane - Broomall, PA
started: 02/27/14 4:26 pm | updated: 02/27/14 4:26 pm

There are many facets in the music of Beck Hansen, with each release we see a distinctive feature transcending into new limits and is even more evident with his first full-length record in nearly six years, Morning Phase. Released on February 25th, 2014 Beck's twelfth studio album, Morning Phase proves to be a beautiful captive experience highlighting the immense song-writing ability Beck carefully attributes on his records. With his own father, David Richard Campbell, providing a string arrangement the album flows with incredible resonance and rejuvenating prosperity. Showing many similarities and parallels with his delicate new-millennium record Sea Change, Beck manages once again to incorporate world-class sounds of music in pop culture.

Although being his first full-length since 2008's Modern Guilt, Beck has continued to be busy with many impressive projects. Working with Charlotte Gainsbourg, Beck wrote and produced the music for her album IRM released in 2009. Charlotte being the daughter of iconic French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg whose records have inspired and influenced countless albums including Beck's Sea Change. Also producing the Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks album Mirror Traffic released in 2011. In addition to working with artists on records Beck introduced a revolutionary package of music in 2012 entitled Song Reader where one can find 20 newly written songs delivered on sheet music to be performed freely by the purchaser. This experiment found remarkable success with online videos posted by musicians performing the sight-read music from Song Reader. Also playing a handful of concerts recently including a string of shows with Bob Dylan, Wilco, Cibo Matto and Sean Lennon this past summer. Beck's evident contributing to the current state of music has been nothing but restorative and brilliantly progressive towards ingenious mastery.

Morning Phase begins with a very tranquil and serene cycle of stringed instruments, serving as a precursor to the opening track entitled "Morning." Very reminiscent of "The Golden Age" from Sea Change, the song features an open and lightly played acoustic guitar, keyboards and pining lyrics highlighting Beck and his ability to produce a defenseless introduction to an awakening album. Continuing on the strong plane with a naturally pulsating track "Heart Is A Drum" the song notes, "The heart is a drum/keeping time with everyone." Moments like these strike an innate chord with the listener, prompting a comforting relation while carefully conducting a joyous picture of the gentleness of life. The record continues to the groove-laden tune entitled, "Say Goodbye." The song emits a feeling highlighting loss and the way we deal with relationships when there is not much to give away. This leads to the very first song we were introduced to Morning Phase, the beautifully hymnal "Blue Moon." Graceful and sonically striking "Blue Moon" may be the swan song we have been waiting for throughout Beck's ultimately impressive music career. Instrumentally the song is constructed with inventive character and genuinely unique structure with acoustic guitar, ukulele and charango. "Blue Moon" invites the listener to join in the powerful voyage of self-discovery and inspirational introspection. The first side of Morning Phase ends with the reverent song called "Unforgiven" serving as a reminder of the remarkable journey the listener has begun and reaffirming the trusting narrator guiding us through light within the darkness.

Instrumentally Morning Phase is superior with a multitude of the universal sounds of strings including harp, cello, violin, viola and stand-up bass in unison with Beck's prominent vocals. Starting the second side of Morning Phase is the somber and captivating "Wave" providing an incredibly powerful internalization of isolation in relation to the world. Leading into the inspiring â€œDonâ€™t Let It Goâ€ defending the listener to keep at aspirations and adventures. The welcoming and flowingly focused song "Blackbird Chain" highlights the rocky grounds in which conflicts arise while gliding through with atmospheric slide guitar, dancing piano and lovingly played violin. Instrumental track entitled "Phase" makes a segway with beautiful violin into "Turn Away" with finger-picked acoustic guitar and daunting vocals echoing through the stills of time and reverberates into the depths of soul. "Country Down" is a song of ancient awakening in the midst of being discovered and finding oneself, a lone harmonica is played with charming precision and brilliant presence. The final song on the record is the encapsulating "Waking Light" where we are greeted with the morning yet our memory is fleeting and often vanished. Resting in overwhelming sunlight the stringed instruments surround the listener with their prowess and sheer radiance. Closing the song and album is an ignited electric guitar before the transmission comes to a halt, and now the listener may start the day with a sense of inspiration, optimism and oneness.

Beck has surpassed all expectations with his latest album, Morning Phase. This is a record we are blessed to closely admire and will cherish for generations to come. The amazing versatility as an artist, Beck continues to provide music in the interest of muse for listeners throughout the world. While becoming a prominent figure of the 1990s Beck's vision for music continues to be renowned, thought-provoking, inspirational, and serves as a catalyst for artists far and wide to discover their own talent and songs within themselves. The ingenious song-writing ability Beck possesses shines with brilliance on Morning Phase and we see an artist reaching a long-awaited pinnacle maturity point where each song becomes an alive formality independent from each relative track. Beck's Morning Phase signifies a point of creative resonance within the atmosphere and as a landmark for achievement for what can be accomplished within a song. Morning Phase reaffirms the reigning royal title of artist Beck has managed to obtain. Beck comes from an artistic family, yet this is independent of the nature of his ability to become and be one of the great standing American song-writers of our generation. Beck has an excellent and generous exuberance towards song-writing and only blossoms with each album release. His passion, dedication and vision is absolutely genuine and provides a stepping stone within the music realm to allow new authentic music to reach the surface and perpetuate as natural and smart as possible. Morning Phase serves as a substantial portrait of the future of songwriting and the brilliance of musical accompaniment within our daily lives.