Beck has always been the sum of many different parts, often cut'n'pasted together in the most wonderfully haphazard, unkempt and unlikely way. 'Mellow Gold' set the standard, 'Odelay' raised the game infinitely and 'Mutations' charmed with its lo-fi rustic sensibility.
With 'Midnight Vultures' the king of Hip-Hop/Punk/Funk/Country/Blues/Disco/Bluegrass/Rock/Electro seemed to lose his way. Essentially a patchy Prince pastiche, on it the crown prince of postmodernism was a little too knowing. So much so that his tongue virtually came through his cheek.
Now setting sail again after three years Captain Hansen has steered his ship into more personal, calm, reflective waters. Ditching the ironic, fluorescent showboating he has opted for one his downbeat efforts, choosing to plough a solitary furrow rather than take on an entire field.
By his own admission 'Sea Change' is predominantly steered by the influence of 1970's British folk and good ol' US country. It's an emotive, often sorrowful work that features his most personal lyrics to date. From the sweeping slide guitar of expansive opener 'Golden Age', the spatial touch of Radiohead cohort and 'Mutations' maestro Nigel Godrich is also evident. As are some suitably cinematic string arrangements courtesy of his dad David Campbell.
The album also showcases Beck's often forgotten voice. Usually just another ingredient of his exotic audio soup here it shines as a tear-jerking secret weapon. 'Guess I'm Doing Fine', 'It's All In Your Mind' and the apparent barbed, yet gentle assault on ex-beau Winona Ryder, 'Lost Cause' all feature vocals soaked in raw emotion and genuine hurt.
Fans of his previous efforts may well be disappointed and dismissive of this direction, yet the album's undeniable beauty and intricate craftsmanship is a joy to behold and deserves a second listen. It certainly isn't as much fun as his uptempo experiments in genre splicing but it's just as rewarding. Set sail, this is one voyage you really shouldn't miss.
