Hyperspace (album)
Hyperspace is the fourteenth studio album by American musician Beck. It was released through Fonograf Records & a licensing deal with Capitol Records on November 22, 2019.[3] It followed Beck's divorce from his wife Marissa Ribisi in February 2019.[4] The album is a collaborative project with high-profile producer Pharrell Williams, who is credited for production and features on several songs.[5] Recording for the album started in late 2018.[5]
Hyperspace
Music journalists describe the album as synth-pop and vaporwave aesthetic-inspired, though Beck draws from several genres.[6][7] The album art reflects this style, featuring Beck in front of a A60 Toyota Celica, with the album's title in blocky Japanese script.[8] Thematically, Hyperspace explores heartbreak, sincerity, solitude and Beck's relation to them.[9] Guest vocalists for the album include Chris Martin, Sky Ferreira, Pharrell Williams, Terrell Hines, Alex Lilly and Roger Joseph Manning Jr.[10]
Four singles were released prior to the release of the Hyperspace. Following its release Beck did a series of interviews, mainly focused on the album itself, Pharrell's contribution to the record, and Beck's creative process.[11][5][4] In August 2020 Beck released an accompanying visual album titled Hyperspace: A.I. Exploration in collaboration with NASA JPL, featuring artificial intelligence generated space imagery and two new songs.[12][13]
Hyperspace received generally positive reviews from critics, though some commented that the album is occasionally superficial and lacked the complexity of Beck's previous projects.[14][7] Hyperspace received two nominations at the 2021 Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. Beck won the latter.[15]
Background[edit]
After concluding the tour for Colors in September 2018, Beck "wanted to seize the moment" to collaborate with Pharrell Williams, something he had wanted to do since 2012. Only once they were in the studio did the idea of a full-length album occur, Beck revealing that their collaboration was initially "going to be a single or an EP, but I think we were both surprised when there was a body of work here".[5]
In February 2019, during the recording on Hyperspace, Beck filed for divorce from Marissa Ribisi, his wife of 15 years, an experience he described as "heartbreaking". Critics expected to see this reflected in the album, though many noted upon release that Hyperspace lacked the somber tone of Sea Change, another album Beck released after a breakup.[4] This detachment of Beck's personal experiences from his music was intentional, with Beck stating he believes detachment leads to better music. Pitchfork writer Sam Sodomsky agreed with this sentiment, writing "It's been a long time since he successfully integrated his personality and his music".[7]
Musical style[edit]
Musically, the album has been described as being synth-pop,[16] R&B,[17][18] dream pop,[19] new wave,[20] and vaporwave.[21] Beck sought to produce a more stripped back sound on Hyperspace. He said he wanted the songs "to be simple, and let them breathe",[22] which is a departure from his historically fuller and maximalist songs. Beck accredits this simplification to Williams, who he has described as a "master minimalist".[22] In contrast to the upbeat and fast-paced songs on his previous album Colors, Beck says in Hyperspace "the songs are a bit slower and have a little bit more of a spell in them; more of a mood".[23]
Thematically, Hyperspace deals with heartbreak, finding relief in troubled times, uncertainty and doubt.[7] Beck has said the album is "about finding peace in the moment".[9] Variety writer A.D. Amorosi described the song "Dark Places" as a "study of epic loneliness", which is complemented by the "proggy bass lines".[24] Hyperspace rarely directly references Beck's recent divorce, but the theme of disconnection and vast loneliness is consistent throughout.[7] The stripped back sounds of Hyperspace enhance this, the songs "Chemical" and "Dark Places" being described as "lullabies delivered from a space shuttle with just one person on it".[7]
Recording and production[edit]
Recording sessions for Hyperspace began after Beck concluded his Colors tour in September 2018.[23] The album credits Pharrell Williams, Cole M.G.N., Greg Kurstin, Paul Epworth, David Greenbaum and Beck himself as producers.[10] Critics primarily focus on Pharrell's influence, who co-wrote or co-produced seven tracks in the album.[22][7][24] Beck describes Williams's influence on the album as "embrac[ing] this kind of post-digital sound".[23]
Hyperspace is the first project that Beck and Williams have worked on, though each artist has expressed respect for the other throughout their careers.[4][11] In early 2018 Williams approached Beck for help on a N.E.R.D. song, and from there they "reconnected" and started to work on Hyperspace.[11][25]
Marketing[edit]
Prior to the release of the album, Beck and Capitol Records released four singles. "Saw Lightning", released April 15 was co-written by Beck and Pharrell Williams and also included vocals, drums and keyboard from Williams.[34] Additionally the title Hyperspace was also revealed, a press release stating that the upcoming album would come out "at an as yet undetermined point in the space time continuum".[35] The second single "Uneventful Days" was released October 17 alongside a music video directed by Dev Hynes. The single was well received, peaking at #1 on Billboard's US Adult Alternative Songs.[36] On November 7 "Dark Places" was released with a lyric video made by Eddie Obrand.[37] "Everlasting Nothing", another song featuring Williams's writing and instrumentals, was released 14 November, a week before Hyperspace's release.[38]
Beck teased and announced the release of Hyperspace on social media in early October 2019.[29] The album's release was accompanied by interviews with several publications. This included NME, a piece by The New Yorker and NPR.[39][5][4] These interviews primarily focused on the collaboration on Hyperspace with Williams, and Beck's creative process.
Following the release of the album, Beck headlined the Intersect festival in December 2019 along with Kacey Musgraves, Anderson .Paak and Foo Fighters.[40][41] In February 2020 Beck announced a set of UK and European tour dates, taking place in June and July.[42] In May 2020 these tour dates were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[43] The performances were rescheduled for June and July 2021,[44] however in May 2021 a statement was released on Beck's Twitter account that the shows had been cancelled "due to continued coronavirus-related restrictions on public gatherings, and in the interest of public safety".[45] Beck was also meant to perform at several festivals in 2020, including Williams's Something in the Water festival and Netherlands festival Down the Rabbit Hole.[46][47] However, all the festivals were cancelled or postponed due to safety concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[48]