A few weeks ago, Beck visited the KCRW studios in Los Angeles to perform four songs, and now that set is streaming on Spotify as an EP entitled Live From KCRW. Stream it above.
Playing one song from 2005's Guero and three from his recent album Morning Phase, Beck continued his 2014 conquest of seemingly every late night TV show, radio show and concert venue in the U.S. It sounds like he brought at least some of the ensemble of musicians who played on Morning Phase along for this KCRW appearance, as live drums, bass and at least two guitars appear on each song.
The highlight of the set is also its sole upbeat moment, Guero's "Black Tambourine," which rouses Beck and Co. out of their folky slumber for the grooving, funky song. "Blue Moon," which has been the star of Beck's media appearances in 2014, is also rendered beautifully here, especially the flurrying assault of guitars in its coda (side note: it's taken me this long to realize that the falsetto melody in "Blue Moon" is identical to the one found on Q Lazzarus' "Goodbye Horses"). All in all, this EP is a nice footnote to Beck's recent album.
At this point, it doesn't look like this Spotify-only EP will get a physical release. Head over to Beck's Zumic artist page for more of his music, videos, news and tour dates.
