Customer Reviews

Beak>

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Wowee wow!! Normally I don't write reviews and I'm certainly no Lester Bangs (or even Richard Meltzer), but I have to make an exception on this one. No idea how helpful anybody is going to find this, but whatever. Beak> is a new project from Geoff Barrow- who I believe was/ is the DJ in Portishead- and they fit very snugly in with the Neu!/ Harmonia/ La Dusseldorf school of motorik/ Krautrock doings. Motorik being more or less a human drummer playing like a machine, or as close as he/ she can manage. Nothing about this record sounds particularly recent- I think it might even fool a lot of Krautrock heads- and I found it particularly interesting that the record was played entirely live with no overdubs and then constructed/ arranged via intensive editing. Incidentally and/ or crucially, it DOES NOT SOUND LIKE the product of intensive editing; the music flows very naturally, with only slightly more precise repetition than would be achieved with a completely live recording. I myself often construct my music via intensive and/ or destructive edits and it fascinates me to do such in a guitar/ bass/ drums format such as is done here. Don't know what else to say, other than it's an INCREDIBLY rare occurrence for me to listen to any new record in its entirety three times in a row on the day it arrives; but I've already listened to this one three times in a row and I may end up going for four. Three times in a row for this record= THREE HOURS, folks; yes, it actually is that good. Again, a great choice for fans of the Neu!/ Harmonia/ La Dusseldorf school and/ or more recent Krautrock-influenced folks like Stereolab and Broadcast. Kudos to Mike Patton and Ipecac as well for releasing this record Stateside so I didn't have to pay $30 or whatever for an import; yes kids, I still listen to music on vinyl and CDs [Captain Caveman up up and away and things like that]. Again, wow!!

I buy tons of music, you know, the kind that comes in plastic. Tangibleness, I dig it. I make a list every year of all my favorite crap that I bought. I figured I was done with the list around October...then THIS thing comes out of NOWHERE. I love it. It massages my brain, makes it work in ways most contemporary music doesn't.

(Intermission: If you own NO albums by the group CAN...WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE???)

I'm just a music fan who gets a little bold after a few adult beverages, I never denied that. All I know is that this album reminds me why I love music so much-the adventure, the quest, the discovery, the surprise.

(Intermission: SILVER APPLES...Google is your FRIEND)

I don't care who is in this band, I don't care where it came from, I'm just glad that it is here.

Thanks.

Trippy, throwback, groovy, spacey and certainly not pretentious, Beak> is an experience. There is music you listen to and then there is music you experience. Think Joy Division or Radiohead. Hey, why not even mention Portishead? Beak> is a blend of all three, in my opinion. According to discogs, this album was recorded live in one room with no overdubs or repair, with only edits to create arrangements. You truly get that sense as this is an ALBUM. Albums were meant to be listened to in their entirety, and not have a random track pulled out in some shuffle play mix. So experience the genious of Geoff Barrow, as if you hadn't already with his masterpiece work under the name of Portishead.

The vocals on this album are minimal, and haunting. Sometimes used more as instruments, with the occasional howling or wailing. Retro organs, creepy spine-tingling strings (almost off-key), droning bass lines, tambourine hits and chamber reverberated effects give this album an almost drug-like hypnotic feel. This album is truly a journey. Be sure to hunt down the IMPORT version of this CD, as you'll get two extra tracks "Pill" and "I Know" (both ESSENTIAL cuts, not throwaways) and more importantly, the rare BOX SET which includes an additional EP with 4 more tracks; "Green Machine," "Globus Hystericus," "Clutton," and "Oh" plus a 12" single with yet two MORE tracks "Nash Hill" and "Grandy Hill".

To me there is one throwaway cut on this album, "Barrow Gurney," which sounds like an electric guitar being tuned for 2 minutes... perhaps it is to set the stage for the following cut, who knows but I always skip it.

I hope Beak> isn't a one-album experiment and will continue with more material. The bonus EP and 12" are proof that they have a lot to offer.
I would not be surprised if Thom Yorke had this album in his collection.

What a great record, totally organic and intelligent compositions, warm analog sound. This could be a Cluster or Neu! record from the late 70's, if those bands wanted to rock harder. Awesome headphone listen too, get it!!!!