“One, two, you know what to do!” and with that intro Beck kicks off his seventh major label release, straight as the crow flies into a lazy groove that harks back to his Loser daze. This hint of rhythm over rock implies that Beck is still switched onto Guero’s hybrid mode, although the presence of producer Nigel Godrich, who also produced Mutations and Sea Change, may suggest otherwise. By the third track, Cellphone’s Dead, it becomes clear that The Information is neither a sequel to the brittle but beautiful Sea Change, nor is it pushing any boundaries.

Instead it rather sounds like Beck is looking to validate his knack for left of centre (yet somehow appealing) tunes; an exercise perhaps in applying Godrich’s magic touch to the urban twist that Beck loves to meddle with so much. The result, while not revealing any secrets, is brimming with that familiar Beck timbre, more prominently on outstanding tracks like Soldier Jane, Strange Apparition, Dark Star and the incredibly infectious single, Nausea. In the second half of the record, however, Beck seems to have tuned in to his experimental nature more decisively, a decision that works in places and falters in others, ending with the 10-minute spatial ramble/medley, Horrible Fanfare/Landslide/Exoskeleton. I must admit that while I have found every one of Beck’s album releases since Mellow Gold to be impeccable, this time it sounds less cohesive and complete!

Rating: 3

CD COURTESY OF EXOTIQUE

BNI - On and on’

“You won’t see me wasting time” is the opening line from Second Thoughts, the third track off BNI’s most recent album, On And On. The line could easily pass off as a motto of sorts for this energetic three-piece; an underlying slogan that has accompanied them ever since the band’s core members – Mammal and Kinnie – decided to have a bash at punk music by way of Sham 69’s The Kids Are United almost 15 years ago! On 1999’s Ilsien Pajjizi, a pummelling album of brash punk with a local flavour, they did away with the old Punk’s Not Dead cliché but the band really came of age with Force Majeur, a project that reflected a broader musical vision and technique underneath the power and the energy.

Their latest – released last December – pretty much picks up where Force Majeur left off – flaunting BNI’s punk roots from the get-go as opener Before The Flame Dies and Sine Qua Non display only too well. There is however enough space for their engaging musical outlook to flourish and evolve, and the more recent reggae inflections manifest themselves as much in the ska-injected Shadows, undeniably a moshpit favourite, as they do on the dub-heavy Play Dead. Second Thoughts, on the other hand blends the genres; a sure sign of BNI’s ability to translate their influences into original, vibrant tunes that have made them, not only one of Malta’s top punk acts but also one of its liveliest and most invigorating! Make sure not to miss their much-loved cover of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire, included here as a hidden track! More info at www.myspace.com/bnimalta.

Rating: 3.5

CD COURTESY OF WWW.LIB66.TK