Beck's 'Modern Guilt', produced by Danger Mouse and featuring Cat Power on two tracks, has LEEAAKKEEDD!!! Super-blogger
Pop Apocalypse has had it up for preview a couple of days, and it is released this week - like him or not, he's yet to release a dud yet, in my opinion, as I really enjoyed both the 're-Odelay' vibe of 'Guero' and the hypnotic live and extended beat-jams of 'The Information', although they are strikingly different (but of course, it's this constant changing of styles that defines him).
This has had my full attention for a couple of hours mow, it's relatively simple in terms of arrangements and production. It was the strutting bass, creeping piano and occasional electronica additions of the title track, along with Beck's almost detached ruminations on paranoia that first hooked me in. I keep expecting Danger Mouse to do something excessive, grandiose and bombastic, and he keeps confounding that expectation by producing works of restraint, and demonstrating excellent taste - he's even quite conservative on the last Black Keys outing, although it's tricky to know how much of this is due to both the band's roots rock & blues minimalist attitude, and the late great Ike Turner's involvement at the beginning of recordings. After a few albums collaborating with Nigel Godrich, and the same with the Dust Brothers, I would imagine Beck is an experienced studio colleague, and while the album is intent in it's focus, DM, it seems, has had room to move and the sounds are gorgeous. I'm kinda pre-inclined to like this after being a Beck fan for a long time - it might take a few more listens for a casual fan, I dunno - I think it's really good though. There seems to be more lyrical substance here too Something I loved about 'Seachange' too, by the way) - it's a long way away from Beck-tionary rhyming, and Beck really demonstrates some great guitar (presuming it's all his playing).
'Modern Guilt' seems to be steeped in 'Pop Classicism' if you will; brief and straight to the point (or the hook), occasional flourishes and nods to any number of old music nuggets - specifically, British 60's guitar pop (which also reared it's head on the last Gnarls Barkly album), and pre-Acid, post Brit Invasion American Folk/Rock of the same era, such as is compiled on those 'Nuggets' albums. It's not an entirely retro affair, there's room here for instance for a skipping d&b beat under 'replica' and it grows sonically larger moment by moment, with the inclusion of more elements - strings, keys, echo, and then it's done.
However it's always in the service of the tune, and the tune never outstays it's welcome, which is a little maddening at times - with Beck and Danger Mouse, it really does seem like the beginning of a beautiful friendship, at the same time, after a few listens it seem like Cat Power's contributions have been on the piano and perhaps some backing vocals.
It's a nice feeling, the experience that you are listening to something unique and very good the first few times. Time to everybody dance!!! and take it all in... I'm sure I'll have more to say somewhere later.
