Customer Reviews

Morning Phase

I've had a rather on-off relationship with Beck over the years. His chameleon-like musical abilities mean that somebody unfamiliar with his work could listen to two albums back to back and not even realise that they were listening to the same artist. This means that the prospect of a new Beck album doesn't necessarily fill me with excitement; I have enjoyed plenty of his releases, but I've also positively disliked a couple of his efforts too. One of his most distinctive pieces of work is his 2002 album, "Sea Change", produced by Nigel Godrich, which, up until this point, stood alone as arguably his best record (the hugely creative "Odelay" being the other contender) with a dreamy, expansive, acoustic, shimmering character. Now, with "Morning Phase", his first album in six years, he has released a self-produced record every bit the equal of "Sea Change", the album that many fans consider to be his masterpiece. It wouldn't be inaccurate to describe this as a follow-up album to "Sea Change", such is the similarity between the two bodies of work, but "Morning Phase", importantly, still has a character of its very own and, although it doesn't have advantage of the element of surprise which made its older sibling such a beautifully refreshing listen, it is probably the better album.

There are echoes of Nick Drake, Neil Young, Simon and Garfunkel ("Turn Away", especially) and all of the hallmarks of the late sixties/early seventies folk greats in abundance on this album. I wouldn't want you to think that you were going to hear something stripped down and entirely folk, though, there is definitely something rather sumptuous and grand about "Morning Phase", an impressive vision throughout the set that takes the compositions to a higher level than any simply defined genre. There is also evidence that Beck has learned much from working with Nigel Godrich, as you can almost hear his trademark sound on some tracks and surrounding himself with excellent musicians such as Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Jason Falkner and Joey Waronker as well as a truly wonderful full string section conducted by one of the industry's most accomplished figures, David Richard Campbell (Beck's father) means that this is a magnificently arranged and recorded piece of work, featuring much of the same personnel who made "Sea Change" such a remarkable record. This project has taken him five years to write, record, polish, re-record and develop - it is an intricately-crafted labour of love and the amount of time he has spent on it has paid dividends; it's almost eerily perfect. Quite simply, "Morning Phase" is probably the best album Beck has ever made and, without a doubt, one of the finest pieces of work I am likely to hear this year.

This is such a slow, lush, languid, immersive, beautiful record. Like 'Sea Change', which is very much its blood-brother, it puts us behind the wheel of a comfortable but ageing sedan and takes us on a slow, hazy drive through the desert, with Nick Drake in the passenger seat. But if 'Sea Change' was a drive in the cold moonlight, on 'Morning Phase' we're driving into the bleached-out, watery colours of the dawn.

Beck has always mined deep into the seams of American musical forms, and never more so than in 2012's 'Song Reader', an album so traditional it was only ever issued as sheet music. Those of us who were lucky enough to see Beck and his pals perform 'Song Reader' at last year's Barbican jamboree might have expected the same gleeful, antic spirit of experimentation and discovery from 'Morning Phase'. No chance. While the new new album is as in love with the past as its immediate forebear (how can it not be with a song titled 'Blue Moon' and a first lyric that begins "Woke up this morning"?), it's also the most restrained, constrained record in Beck's entire canon. Musically, it completely recaptures the woozy feel and texture of 'Sea Change', but whereas that album's lyrics railed against the traps of fate and circumstance, 'Morning Phase' just opens its palms and accepts what life throws at it. Like Beck sings in 'Wave' "If I surrender and I don't fight this wave, I won't go under, I'll only be carried away."

Goodness knows we could all do with this kind of blissed-out West Coast sunshine in our lives after the miserable winter we've all just endured. If you have the patience to let its charms slowly enfold you, 'Morning Phase' will warm your bones like a familiar old pullover.

Here it is. Six years or so of waiting. The long-awaited follow up to Modern Guilt, Morning Phase is billed as a companion piece to Sea Change. The connection between this album and it's 2002 predecessor is obvious from the outset.
The string intro 'Cycle' reminiscent of 'Lonesome Tears', then 'Morning' which has echoes of 'The Golden Age'. 'Heart Is A Drum' reminds me, like several moments on this album of the Pink Floyd of Obscured By Clouds / Meddle era, and this is my overriding feeling, listening to Morning Phase, more so than the Sea Change comparison. It is a more uplifting listen than Sea Change.
'Say Goodbye' with its crisp acoustic guitar and banjo has a Neil Young vibe followed by the first song which was trailed ahead of the album release, the heartfelt single 'Blue Moon' which gives way to the slower tempo of 'Unforgiven'
A striking aspect of this record is the production. It sounds like a Nigel Godrich production, with whom Beck has worked on some of his finest albums. It is clear that he has learned a lot during their collaborations and appears to have now matched him in terms of lending his music drama and atmosphere. 'Wave' has plenty of both. Beck's father, David arranges here the string section which has real gravitas. It is a stand-out song on a stand-out album and it's strings remind me a little of some of the darker arrangements from 'The Wall', and another Floyd comparison.
'Dont Let It Go' to me is evocative of the Ryan Adams of Heartbreaker era but with haunting vocal harmonies which have a 'Runners Dial Zero' flavour. Blackbird Chain also has a Mutations feel and is followed by another string arrangement 'Phase'
'Turn Away' sees Beck back into full-on Pink Floyd mode,reminding me very much of 'GoodBye Blue Sky' in both tempo and instrumentation, in addition to Beck's Dave Gillmore-like mellow harmonising and multi-tracked vocals. Beautiful.
'Country Down' is an alt-country anthem reminding me in some senses of Neil Young's On The Beach era.
'Waking Light is a fitting finale to an epic Beck release, and has many of the elements of what makes this such a great album - the lush strings, the vocal harmonies and the Pink Floyd type arrangements. The finale leaves you with sense that you have just heard a classic which will go down as one of Beck's very finest.
Is this the best Beck album? It's difficult to say. I am playing a very lot at the moment, but then it's been a long time in coming. I will say though, that along with The Information, Sea Change, Mutations and Odelay (Not to mention the acoustic version of Modern Guilt), Morning Phase is definitely one of his best

This Album is a piece of Art. Great songs all equally great. Beautiful, So worth buying as you will love it if your a Beck Fan and even if your not - buy it and become one!

There's two types of Beck - both equally brilliant in their own way. There's dancefloor Beck of Odelay and Midnite Vultures etc.
And there's sublime Beck, see SeaChange. Sometimes he fuses the two, but this is definitely sublime Beck.
Sad, wistful and dripping in golden sunshine. Beautiful stuff.
Any fans of 70s Neil Young should hear this.

I do really like this album, but it doesn't grab me in the same way as Sea Change did. Though it's a perfect companion piece and there are some fantastic songs here. Took me a few listens to get into it but once I got there it's stuck with me.

This is Beck all mellowed out. Late Saturday night or early Sunday morning is best for playing this album. Love it to bits! Even my Mrs likes it & she's as hard to please as someone who's very hard to please.

To say that this album could be Part 2 to Sea Change is no exaggeration. Neither is it a bad thing, as personally, it's one of my favourites.

There is no escaping the similarity, as right from 'Morning' you realise you are in pretty much the same territory. In fact, 'Morning' is pretty much at the same tempo, time-signature and genre as 'The Golden Age' (first track on Sea Change) giving us a good idea as what to expect from this album: folky, down-beat, reflective, sometimes solemn, but with one difference... This is a very uplifting album on the whole.

Personal favourites include: This Morning, Say Goodbye, Don't let it go, Walking Light... But in fact, they are all personal favourites at this moment in time.

In short, if you loved Sea Change, you will love this album.

As we all know, Beck has been around for years, however only now have I been hit with his amazing music, so bare in mind if you're a more avid listener to Beck, this is the first record of his I've listened to.

With that anti folk genre he has established, Beck is back with his twelfth album, and his first in the last six years, Morning Phase is a beautiful collection of tracks that seem to transition perfectly between each other which makes the album sound like one big, beautiful song.

With the first single from the album, Blue Moon, being the best with it's loud but soft drum beat, excellent banjo work backed with an acoustic gives this song the foundation to lay beautiful lyrics and take over your ear drums in the best possible way. With it's guitar solo towards the end of the song you can't help but think "So this, is the definition of experience." That's not to say it's his best ever song, as I cannot judge, but it is something that has had hours of work put into it. And remember, that's only one song from the album. Another honourable mention is "Turn Away", great acoustic guitar work, great lyrics sang in amazing vocals, this song would remind you of a Simon and Garfunkel song. Song I disliked the most of the album would be "Blackbird Chain", not a bad song at all, but If I had to pick a singular track to be the worst, I would pick that.

On top of all that Morning Phase is nothing short of an Audible Masterpiece. Cellos and Violins, electric Guitars with it's cousins Bass and Acoustic, bass drums of impact and keyboards of angelic keynotes all make up the glorious orchestra that is Beck. New listener or not, all I can say is, just buy it.

But if this has not completely sold you, check out the other great reviews for this product.

As with all Beck albums,you'll find these songs inhabiting your head-space after a couple of listens - fantastic playing and lush arrangements.