Beck - Hyperspace

Hyperspace is Beck in a dreamy, starlit mood, a 2019 album that pairs his melancholy streak with sleek, modern production, presented here in a gatefold jacket.

His fourteenth studio album found him collaborating closely with Pharrell Williams, who co-produced and co-wrote much of the record. Coming after the bright, upbeat Colors, it took a more introspective turn, drifting between synth-pop, hazy R&B and the wistful sensibility of Sea Change and Morning Phase, all filtered through a futuristic lens.

"Saw Lightning" is the liveliest moment, a jittery collision of hip-hop beats and twangy slide guitar that shows the Beck and Pharrell partnership at its most playful. "Uneventful Days" is a gorgeous, slow-moving reflection on stillness and isolation, while "Dark Places" lets its gentle melody float over shimmering, ambient keyboards.

The opener "Hyperlife" and the title track add to the record's sense of weightlessness, as though the songs were slowly drifting through orbit. Everything feels carefully placed, spacious and quietly emotional, a set of songs designed to sink in gradually.

It's a record that suits late nights and headphones, revealing more of its subtle detail with every spin. The gatefold packaging gives the album's artwork plenty of room, making this a handsome addition to any Beck shelf.