Everything about Beck Hansen's current position usually signals disaster, or at least disappointment, for a musician. He is just emerging from a six-year absence, after having settled down with all the comforts of happy family life and immense commercial success. Needless to say, the odds were stacked against any kind of creative innovation in the eclectic performer's 12th studio album.
But if Beck has proven anything, it's that he is far from predictable. On his latest release, "Morning Phase," he trades his usual funky, postmodern beats for unexpectedly mellow, slow-burning vocals and ethereal acoustics. The result is a record that is both inventive and beautifully melodic, proving that the artist was able to transcend the creative roadblock that usually builds itself up after so many years of critical acclaim. "Morning Phase," his most mellow work to date, further solidifies Beck's status as one of the most imaginative singer-songwriters in the industry.
This is not the first time Beck has let the tongue-and-cheek rhythms he is known for on hits like "Loser" (1994) and "Where It's At" (1996) melt away to reveal a softer side. In fact, "Morning Phase" is a sort of companion piece for his 2002 release "Sea Change," a stormier record that capitalized on the gloom and removed hopelessness of his infamous breakup with designer Leigh Limon. Indeed, the tone of that record is strikingly similar to that of "Morning Phase." The two albums could almost be two separate but related parts of Beck's escapist period.
Still, "Morning Phase" stands alone in its lighter, lusher atmosphere. There's sunlight shining through the clouds of its predecessor, revealing a kind of hopeful rebirth for the artist and more relaxing listening experience for his fans. While "Sea Change" focused more on brooding endings, "Morning Phase" is a further stripped down, spread out exploration of fresh beginnings.
These tones are felt most deeply on standout tracks "Morning" and "Blackbird Chain," both of which exemplify a refreshingly delicate style while still hinting at Beck's penchant for catchy hooks. They are more understated here than ever before. Released in gradual breaths instead of his usual frantic, switched-up riffs, he has not gotten rid of the jazzy undertones that gave life to all his previous hits. Instead, they are simply infused here into calmer layered vocals ("Heart is a Drum") and arranged under moody lyrics ("these are the words we use to say goodbye").
While the middle of the record does sink into darker and slower territory, with the Radiohead-style melancholy becoming slightly monotonous at times, Beck wisely breaks up the slowdown with islands of bright instrumental overtures during "Cycle" and "Phase." These transitions help give the album its overarching feeling of detached relaxation and emphasize Beck's stronger-than-ever vocals when they come drifting back for the next song.
It is clear that "Morning Phase" has gleaned this type of California-inspired hazy folk rock from a variety of influences, including the Simon and Garfunkel-like simple strums and minimalistic lyrics heard in "Turn Away" and the gently thumping homage to nature featured "Heart is a Drum" recalls Pearl Jam's style. But these orchestral landscapes, soaked in layers of reverb and edgy backup guitar, are undeniably Beck's own brand.
Perhaps that is why he can get away with something so simple and understated. With two decades of critical success under his belt, Beck has earned the luxury of experimentation. If a new artist released an album with such muted, laid-back tracks, the watercolor soundscape would likely fade and bleed in with every other mellow rock band out there and go unnoticed. There is plenty of nebulous, neutral territory on "Morning Phase" that comes off more as a casual shrug than a definitive point to stand its ground in the genre.
Beck is able to pull this off, though, with the comfort and ease only a musical veteran of his stature could manage. Taking a step back from his usual wild eclecticism has allowed the songwriter to create something both accessible and uniquely low-key. This aptly reflects the title of the album: this is the quiet morning after to the frenzied nights of his previous work - a slow, reflexive exhalation at daybreak. With sun pouring in at every crevice, "Morning Phase" sheds light on the seemingly infinite incarnations of Beck's talent.
