So it does appear that Beck is hard at work at a new album. A recent Rolling Stone article about Odeluxe mentions that he is recording in L.A. with a producer he declines to name. Beck assured that it will be out this year.

Spin Magazine “reports” in one sentence that Beck is back to work with Nigel Godrich, which sounds possible. But then JMJ, Beck’s bassist/musical director, added to the mystery that Beck is working with someone JMJ set him up with, so I read that as someone new. (”And it’s going well,” he added.)

So… this is a report that there isn’t a lot to report, and what little there is to report isn’t quite solid info. I feel like a real member of the media.

British Beck fans, don’t forget to watch (and record!) From the Basement featuring Beck tomorrow night, Saturday December 15th at 9PM on Sky Arts (Channel 267) and Sky HD (Channel 268).

For those of you who don’t know, this is a performance by Beck and his band (from last year I think) performing live in Nigel Godrich’s basement. Beck friend Jamie Lidell is also on the episode I believe.

Here’s a YouTube preview, unfortunately the same as the video I linked to before:

Again from JMJ, the setlist (songs with links are to youtube videos that have surfaced) for DAY 2 opening for The Police in Buenos Aires :

01. Devils Haircut
02. Black Tambourine
03. Think I’m In Love
04. The New Pollution
05. Fuckin’ With My Head
06. Sunday Sun
07. Paper Tiger
08. Lost Cause
09. Soldier Jane
10. Girl
11. Where It’s At
12. Nausea
13. Minus
14. Loser
15. E-Pro

*Video quality on the youtube videos is not all that great and camera kinda goes everywhere, so frxz who get motion sick watch out. hehe. Sound quality is pretty decent, however.

Here’s the setlist (songs with links point to youtube videos of the performances) posted on stewoo.net by none other than JMJ himself. Looks as if the Echoplex was indeed a warm-up and the setlist here is pretty similar.

Devil’s haircut
Black Tambourine
Loser
Think I’m in Love
New Pollution
Fuckin’ with my head
Information
Sunday Sun
Paper Tiger
Soldier Jane
Where It’s At
Nausea
Girl
Minus
Mutherfucker
E-Pro

Some comments regarding the show from JMJ as found on stewoo.net:

“Oh yeah - the gig? It was fun. Getting our sea legs for the stadiums. I think we rocked, we’ll see what the press says, since their words obviously mean a lot more than what I have to say. Had a great time tho, seriously.”

I see Newt called me out on my thoughts a few posts ago about the recent warm-up gig at the Echoplex, since I’m in LA and was there.  Sorry for taking so long to get this up, but better late than never, right?

The exciting thing about the show was the new band: Beck’s usual crew (Wounded Cougar) was mostly otherwise committed, and in Beck’s zeal to go to South America and open for The Police, he had to get a new band together.  Justin Meldal-Johnsen, the longtime music director/bad-ass bassist/Leatherman, was there.  Beck’s drummer from 1994-2000 (and sporadically since), Joey Waronker, was back again.  Joey and JMJ are amazing together.  Guitar was played by Jason Falkner, who played on Sea Change and Info, and was in Jellyfish with Roger Joseph Manning Jr.  And finally keyboards/effects/tambourine was provided by none other than Nigel Godrich, producer of Mutations, Sea Change and Info (and the 6th member of Radiohead).

Apparently, the band had only rehearsed three or four times.  The setlist, posted below, was all the songs they knew together (tho I’m postive JMJ and Joey could play anything; not so sure the other guys–including Beck).  The songs after “E-Pro” were not on the setlist, and were spontaneous encore additions.

The music was relatively heavy-sounding, not quite as subtle or diverse as usual Beck concerts.  The band’s chemistry and tightness was good, but nowhere near as strong as Wounded Cougar–who had been Beck’s touring (and studio) band for a number of years and become quite impressive.  But it was the first show (of only 4) and I assume will get even better.

Highlights were the songs pulled from Mellow Gold, and not played in around 10 years, “Motherfuker” and “Fuckin With My Head.”  I really enjoyed Nigel Godrich’s goofy little keyboard break on “The New Pollution.”  “Girl” was played extremely fast.  “Sissyneck” and “Lord Only Knows” were also memorable, but I’m such a sucker for anything Odelay, and may be biased on those.

Anyway, hopefully some of the South American gigs will get recorded too.  This is an interesting lineup for the band, and it would be great to hear them grow.

i’m not sure where the dates came from, but according to ROSEMINT cafe Beck’s episode of Nigel Godrich’s From the Basement should be available December 15th.

From The Basement is a music series that features the most intimate live performances from the finest musicians on the planet.

From The Basement launched with special performances from Thom Yorke, The White Stripes and Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid. Beck, Jamie Lidell, The Shins and Jarvis Cocker have all shown the appreciation too with exclusive performances for future transmission. Filmed in high definition with live sound by producer Nigel Godrich, and with no host and no studio audience, From The Basement sets a new standard for music TV production.

From the Basement site

From the Basement MySpace

[source]

PS I think this will appear online, but if not you UK people should record it. It’ll be on SkyArts (267) and SkyArts HD (268).

UPDATE: there’s a clip up now on the website - Motorcade

UPDATE #2: Sky Arts has e-mailed us some pics from the show. Thanks Sky Arts!