Beck, Hyperspace | Album Review 💿

Grammy-winning alternative darling Beck returns with an intriguing, synth-heavy 14^th studio album, Hyperspace.

Beck Hansen can accurately be characterized as a restless musician.  Perhaps restless can have a negative connotation at times, in the case of the Grammy-winning alternative musician, it’s made his career incredibly intriguing.  At the 57^th Annual Grammy Awards, Beck shocked everyone when he won the Grammy for Album of the Year for his 2015 album, Morning Phase.  A fine LP overall, it was a more acoustic-driven affair.  Since then, Hansen has opted for a more electronic, forward thinking approach, beginning with Colors (2017) and now Hyperspace.  Much of Hyperspace, a synth-heavy affair, finds him collaborating with Pharrell Williams.  The results are almost entirely positive in all honesty.

“Hyperlife”

Hyperspace commences with the brief, enigmatic “Hyperlife,” a song that is more of an intro or an interlude. “Hyperlife” features a gorgeous and lush instrumental (co-produced by Beck, David Greenbaum, and Pharrell Williams), with only one verse of lyrics from Beck.  “Beauty, light and crushing life,” he sings, continuing, “Wanna feel more and more / With you.” If it does nothing more, it sets the tone for a truly unique, forward thinking affair from the Grammy winner.

“Uneventful days, uneventful nights / Living in that dark, waiting for the light.” David Greenbaum and Pharrell Williams stay onboard as co-producers alongside Beck on the hella sleek, full-length bop, ✓ “Uneventful Days.” “Uneventful Days” is rich in synths, creating a truly awe-inspiring backdrop.  Likewise, Beck delivers clear vocals and a performance that is quite invested.  Melodically, this is quite a tuneful record, particularly the aforementioned excerpt from the chorus.  The songwriting isn’t deep but it’s easy to follow and Beck’s depressed state is quite relatable.

“Saw Lightning” 

If “Uneventful Days” wasn’t far removed from “Hyperlife” which preceded it, ✓ “Saw Lightning” is certainly a stark contrast.  If those “uneventful days” had you totally down, “Saw Lightning” is sure to wake you up. Even though the record is quite the departure, it is a welcome one. Listening, it’s clear that only Pharrell and Beck could construct such a distinct blend of hip-hop, space funk, and alternative folk, or something like that.  The production incorporates guitars, synths, and those signature, hyper drums associated with Skateboard P.  As left of center as it is, it’s equally infectious and irresistible.

✓ “Die Waiting” naturally has a difficult act to follow.  The good news is, this Sky Ferreira assisted record gives Beck another bop.  While David Greenbaum returns in the production chair alongside Cole M.G.N. and of course Hansen himself, it’s the first non-Pharrell cut.  While there is further contrast regarding the sound, this is another superbly assembled backdrop, comprising of ear-popping synths, ripe electric guitars, and an urban beat/groove. Vocally, Beck is true to self, as he is throughout Hyperspace.  Ferreira plays a background role.

“Chemical”

Pharrell Williams returns to the producer’s chair on ✓ 🤩“Chemical,” a ballad fusing R&B, alternative pop, and singer/songwriter.  It’s pretty sweet when you can blend acoustic and electronic elements as soundly as Beck and Pharrell do here. Where “Saw Lightning” was frenetic and a bit raucous, “Chemical” is smoother, even with its ornate backdrop.  Like the preceding songs on Hyperspace, this is a tuneful number, with the chorus leading the charge:

“I’m so high
Love is a chemical
I’m so high
Love is a chemical
Start it, start it again.”

Beyond the chorus, there is a terrific bridge, followed by two additional verses (a total of four), and a high-flying, can’t miss outro.  “Chemical is” is arguably the song to beat on Hyperspace.

“See Through”

Greg Kurstin helps usher in another change of pace as the co-producer on “See Through.”  The result is another fine record, if a shade less enthralling as the crème de la crème.  Even so, “See Through” gives Beck a slick, modern pop record that’s rhythmic and incredibly easy on the ears.  Title track “Hyperspace,” featuring Terrell Hines, arrives as the seventh track on the album. Like Hyperspace as a whole, this is another production showcase, blending hard hitting drums and bright and detuned synths, courtesy of those powerful instruments known as keyboards.  Vocally, the performance begins more traditional on the first verse and lush chorus, before the second verse embraces hip-hop with faster paced rhymes.  If the intent of “Hyperspace” was a vibe, it successfully accomplishes that goal.

So much of Hyperspace can be characterized by its beauty. ✓ “Stratosphere” is no exception, finding Beck singing incredibly tenderly without breaking a sweat.  His background continues to be supportive, with far more acoustic elements in play.  Even so, there’s still an electronic component – one never escapes synths on this album.  This isn’t Morning Phase after all.  To be fair, Morning Phase also had moments where synths came into the mix.  Once more, the chorus is a mega selling point:

“In the stratosphere
There’s nowhere to go from here
In the stratosphere
I’ll be back home another year.”

“Dark Places” 

“Been so lonely / So unholy / Make me feel free / Come and let me down slow.” Hansen and Williams continue to make musical magic on “Dark Places,” the ninth cut from Hyperspace.  Among the pros are the groove, the rhythmic acoustic guitar, ripe synths, the harmonic progression, and perhaps best of all, ripe falsetto from Beck. He doesn’t remain in his head voice the entirety of the song of course – there’s plenty of chest voice and that signature tone he’s blessed listeners with since the 90s.  

Paul Epworth handles co-production duties on “Star,” his sole appearance on Hyperspace.  “Star” naturally embraces a soulful vibe with a killer groove from the onset.  Beck spoils us with more falsetto, as well as some vocal riffs – nothing too flashy, of course. ✓ “Everlasting Nothing,” the longest song, clocking in at five minutes, concludes Hyperspace.  Once again, this is a unique marriage of two eccentric geniuses in regard to sound (Hansen and Williams).  What really stands out about this particular record is how strong the rock influence is.  Even with more grit compared to some of the other songs, it remains sleek.

Final Thoughts

All in all, Hyperspace is another compelling album from Beck, period.  While it is a bit synth-heavy at times, this affair still allows Hansen to flex his creative muscles and remain true to self.  Sure, it’s more modern and futuristic compared to some of his work in the past, but listening to Hyperspace, it’s clear this is an album only him, with the help of Pharrell Williams in most instances, could conceive. There’s plenty to like about Hyperspace all said and done.

✓ Gems: “Uneventful Days,” “Saw Lightning,” “Die Waiting,” “Chemical,” “Stratosphere” & “Everlasting Nothing”

Beck • Hyperspace • Capitol • Release: 11.22.19

Photo Credit: Capitol