Song Reader (Beck) | 4/5

SINGAPORE - When Beck first released his album, Song Reader, it was in the form of a music score - leaving the audience (well, those who could read music scores) the freedom to put in their own nuances when it came to performing the material. Now though, the album has been released in an audio format, and features artistes as diverse as Jack Black, Jarvis Cocker, Juanes, Laura Marling, Norah Jones and of course, Beck himself, putting their own nuances to the performance of the material. So what does a Beck album recorded by other people sound like? Well like a Beck album ought to sound - great. The album takes a bit of getting used to, with Moses Sumney getting things started with Title Of This Song, but as the tracks - all 20 of them - roll on, it really does become one jolly musical ride. The arrangements are as varied as can be, and there are few recognisable Beck “standards”, although the melodies are unmistakeably his. Standouts here include Jones’ country take of Just Noise, Lord Huron’s Last Night You Were A Dream and Juanes’ lovely pop rendition of Don’t Act Lke Your Heart Isn’t Hard.