Beck - "Morning Phase" (2014)

Some may have thought the blog had died? Not at all. Life has been occupied by other things for some time, namely an emigration to Canada, Montreal to be precise. Existence has demanded other priorities, but now I'm back. Nice to see you again.

Today's post is the first album I bought after moving here. We had dinner at a neighbour's house, and a record that was played in the background gave me spontaneous associations with David Gilmour / Pink Floyd. The neighbour told me that it was Beck, I was surprised as I linked Beck with a completely different kind of music, I'll admit that it's I'm a loser that pops up in my head, which was a hit as early as the first half of the 90s... I have in other words rather weak knowledge of Beck. It probably means that I missed a lot of interesting creations. That's the way it is when you're stuck in the past and the sounds from an even earlier yesterday. Perhaps I'm a loser, baby.

This is certainly a really great album. Relaxed, beautiful and I think the word mellow may fit well. Maybe a somewhat melancholic album. It's Beck's 12th studio album, and it passed six years between this and the record before. Everywhere it's described as a companion to the 2002 acclaimed album Sea Change, which Beck also himself describes it as. I like Morning Phase so much that I promptly went and got Sea Change as well (which, however, I have not had the time to listen to yet).

Lots of acoustic guitars, shimmering harmonies, beautiful melodies and large soundscapes - it still reminds me of Pink Floyd. For me an album that fits well in the summer's last trembling weeks, when nature is preparing for its winter rest, reality has a touch of some sadness but twilight is still warm and golden.

Not much to talk about - Morning Phase can be warmly recommended to all and everyone.

Tracklist

Side A
1. Cycle 0.40
2. Morning 5.19
3. Heart Is A Drum 4.31
4. Say Goodbye 3.29
5. Blue Moon 4.02
6. Unforgiven 4.34

Side B
1. Wave 3.40
2. Don't Let It Go 3.09
3. Blackbird Chain 4.26
4. Phase 1.03
5. Turn Away 3.05
6. Country Down 4.00
7. Waking Light 5.02