Morning Glory

 

Beck - Morning Phase [0602537649747 UK 2014 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

I was compelled to revisit this album because I believed my first rip a few years back just didn't do it justice. Let's see what I can do about that!

Bernie Grundman's mastering gives space and depth to Beck's original 'thick-bottomed' production. The Hana cartridge does its very best, coaxing these luscious melodies from the Pallas pressing.

Beck's back catelogue is one you can just dip in ...or dip out of. Whilst his popularity has grown over the years, accelerating from his first break on this side of the Atlantic with Mellow Gold and Odelay. I enjoyed his mix of blues, folk, punk and hip-hop at first but then began to grow tired of it. As the title suggested, Sea Change in 2002 was just that, as Mr Hansen mixed fewer genres becoming more americana, and oddly it actually worked. 

Morning Phase came along twelve years later, using some of the ideas conceived for Sea Change at Third Man in Nashville, Beck bought a wide brimmed hat, grew hair down to his shoulder and settled down in Los Angeles to pen, what I would refer to as his 'california' album, and in my humble opinion, his best. I first bought this album back on release and it has been a regular feature on the CD player, however I did always think that the CD was mastered ever so loudly. Jump forward six years  - I finally picked up the vinyl edition and it sounds so much better.

Having been a proven master at genre blending, what Beck has done by mixing country, blue grass and the sounds of swinging sixties California in a modern style, is quite remarkable. Some of the vocal harmonies here are the best you'll hear from a modern day artist, Beck's self-production style wraps atmospheric space around those harmonies and immerses you in the warmth and beauty of a Californian coastal morning sun. The occasional periods of orchestration fill your ears and whilst a little over indulgent, but don't let that put you off. Fittingly, some sections of this album were used for the soundtrack to Cameron Crowe's Aloha movie. I think the kick drums could have been tempered back a bit but perhaps he didn't want to sound too authentic to the period of influence. Yeah, you'll hear elements of The Byrds, Creedance, Crosby Stills & Nash and Simon & Garfunkel on this record and if you are of a younger age this album can only want you to explore those older hacks. Surely that is a good thing. 

You may have guessed that I might like this album a great deal, you might be surprised to know that I haven't felt compelled to buy a Beck album since.

A1   Cycle

A2   Morning

A3   Heart Is A Drum

A4   Say Goodbye

A5   Blue Moon

A6   Unforgiven

B1   Wave

B2   Don't Let It Go

B3   Blackbird Chain

B4   Phase

B5   Turn Away

B6   Country Down

B7   Waking Light