This album is unapologetic in its singularity, yet listening to this record is an experience that is as rewarding as it is exhausting.
At once incredibly forward-looking and reassuringly familiar – a hard trick to pull off in itself – Beams will feel like an album you've already spent a lifetime with, and can only cement Dear's reputation as one of the finest songwriters in modern electronic music.
With Beams, Matthew Dear has created his most intoxicating, accomplished and immediate paean to all that has come before him and everything that now stands in front of him.
Partly because of Dear’s wall of sound style, there’s so much happening that you get completely lost
The album’s 11 tracks hew to a unified persona, even if that person is deeply conflicted.
Turns out this hedonist has a heart after all, and he had to sacrifice exactly zero of the pleasures of his previous albums to figure it out.
Even though it's awkward to dance to, it is nevertheless a piece of work to be admired
Dear may have been making records for the last 13 years, but it’s only now that he’s really letting his music say exactly what he’s thinking.
The album is Dear's most consistent work yet
There's no doubt that the familiarity of Dear's style after several records means Beams has to work a bit harder to hold your attention than previous efforts.
Beams will slip by pleasantly enough, but probably fail to sink its fabulously manicured nails into your subconscious.
Little bit more color and atmosphere to the production, but the vocals and repetition is still a bit annoying. Unfortunately, I just don't think that Matthew Dear's sound will ever be for me, but oh well.
Matthew Dear experiments with post-punk, pop, and dark wave music in his electronic ensemble. This is perhaps his most clean and consistent album to date.
#3 | / | musicOMH |
#17 | / | AllMusic |
#20 | / | The Needle Drop |
#28 | / | Clash |
#37 | / | The Line of Best Fit |
#84 | / | Crack Magazine |