REVIEW: BECK-HYPERSPACE

4/5

Hypermusic.

Beck is back! Riding on a hyperdrive highway to Neptune with Pharrell Williams in the 'Star Wars' of this 'Hyperspace'. Illuminating the airwaves like a light saber. Or the neon of Japan. In the 80's Tokyo typography for your yellow Tower Records that graces this albums artwork with that era automobile for the people. Now as the headlights of this lipstick red classic open like Bill Murray's weary to in Shinjuku awe eyes, as his jet lag fever dream Shibuya crosses over to the electric opening of 'Lost In Translation', many music geeks are calling this Beck's best bet in years. As he takes "two turntables and a microphone" for some N.E.R.D. production from urban legend Pharrell (hey the Grammy guys still got it...he discovered this year's best new artist and album, Maggie Rogers in a past life somewhere between New York University and 'Alaska'), getting as hip-hop as a 'Devils Haircut' mop of a shaggy dog jumping cruft hurdles...'Odelay'. Although we bum rushing the stage like Kanye think two years ago his classic 'Colors' was the most "luminous moose", 'WOW' vibrant, album of the year. Just like Mr. West did when Beck took home the Grammy for the 'Sea Change' spiritual sequel of the 'Morning View' break-up ballad awakening iconic piece of art. As a matter of fact in this 'Modern Guilt', Beck has been on his epic experimental, lo-fi high standard like the rest of his career for the best part of a decade now. And now on the eve year of his, "I Keanu believe he's a half century" 50th birthday he's about to be awarded another. Sit down Yeezus! 'Jesus' may be 'King', but 'Hyperspace' takes the crown at warp speed...sorry wrong Trek.

Cool as a Casio with even more backlight in this digital age. 'ハイパースペース'  begins with the immersive, ignition intro 'Hyperlife' , before beautiful beats bring atmosphere to 'Uneventful Days'. Which is classic Beck from the outset, like you've just now heard it for years when he sings, "Uneventful days, uneventful nights/Living in that dark, waiting for the light." But there's fondness in that familiarity. And there's even more in the country twang road stop of some 90's era Bek David Campbell on the 'Saw Lightning' surefire hit single that is still hip to Pharrell's hop. With the man from Virigina's background raps attesting. What began as rock star Beck working on the new N*E*R*D album (oh yes!) ended up being a as Williams tweets "highway music", Crockett and Tubbs partnership in this vintage ride. As Beck blesses this album with a speedometer discs avant garde artwork. Picture perfect for the return of the vinyl age in some white on red 'Miami Vice', South Beach suit, sleeves rolled up like an 80's classic that will feel like it's dust jacket been in the crates for cycles. The time to be alive in Japan and that age of American they still soak up like classic candy, John Hughes, throwbacks or thrift shop Tommy Hilfiger. Just like another sure to be single on 'Die Trying', were Beck lays it all down in wait. 'I don't care what I have to do" he yearns and burns. Or on 'Chemical' that is auditory 'Acid For The Children' like Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea's audiobook that alongside 'Me' by Elton John and Prince's unfinished last word of 'The Beautiful Ones' in a big three of books that is dominating the festive buying period this Christmas for music memoirs. We'd love one from the mind of Beck, a musical scientist...whose no Scientologist. But we get these pop art albums are exactly that, as right now he's the only artist this year to inhabit the same space as Maggie Rogers or King Princess, who are really doing something with the sound instead of just talking (or tweeting) about it. That's for the birds. Cheep, cheep.

We can look straight past all that transparency like 'See Through' that 'Sea Change' sounds underwater as you drown in the depths of sleep for this midnite hour city music that takes you higher than any substance in fading neon. On the 'Hyperspace' title track with Pharrell's production sounding halfway between Common's 'Universal Mind Control', or the Neptune planetary sign he reached with Kelis' 'Kaleidoscope', Beck sings about his life that shares the same name, "Faster / Farther / Longer / Harder / I just wanna grow and grow / Beauty, light and crushing life / Wanna feel more and more", taking it all the way to NASA, no problem Houston like Harden. Rocketing, electric life is his brain. Bowie beauty is reached for like the stars in this Ad Astra age, scraping the 'Stratosphere' in the playlists most epic and evoking track. "Turn me around/Collision course with the sun/Far above the ground/Halfway to oblivion", he sings at peace, "high as the moon," "somewhere (he) can disappear". Away from the 'Dark Places' which is another strong single that will be observatory played from the Big Smoke of London's Greenwich to the La La Land of Hollywood's Griffith in the hills park, dancing like Stone and Gosling to its vivid beauty. But nothing shoots for the moon like 'Star'...and nothing sounds quite like it, for the freshest cut on this set of classics. Before the 'Everlasting Nothing' of this LCD like soundsystem (oh baby) takes us all the way back home. "You threw the keys to the kingdom/Over a skyscraper wall/Sowing seeds somewhere obsolete/In the everlasting nothing/It's been a long night in the slipstream/I thought I'd crash and burn if I came down/When I did, I found a friend to take me home." All the way back down to the earth's atmosphere after a good half hour of your head being out of this world, in the clouds like Mercury, Venus, Mars. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Saw Lightning', 'Chemical', 'Stratosphere'.

REVIEW: PUSS N BOOTS-DEAR SANTA E.P.

4/5

Santa's Boots.

Writing their Christmas cards early this year with 'Dear Santa', Puss N Boots wrap up a Christmas album like John Legend or She & Him tis season. As Antonio Banderas paws some baubles with those cats got the cream big eyes of his...oh wait, wrong Puss N Boots Christmas special. Not Shrek! We're talking about the American alternative, country blues act from Brooklyn, New York, formed by Norah Jones, Catherine Popper and Sasha Dobson in 2008. In 2014 they released their definitive debut, 'No Fools, No Fun' to rave reviews and a new career stage for Miss Jones. Who along with The Little Willie's and a new way of releasing music with this year's classic 'Begin Again' sessions is always looking to push the 'Come Away With Me' diamond envelope of her smoky, smouldering sound. On her 'Duets' album lifted from 'Genius Loves Company', Norah collaborated on the Christmas classic 'Cold Outside' with the late, great Ray Charles. But over the last year everyone from Miley Cyrus on SNL, to John Legend cornering the cave dwelling Bublé under the tree market has reworked the traditional and tired lyrics to sound less "why don't you put some records on whilst I pour" creepy, or "say what's in this drink" predatory. And now with everyone from Tank to Gwen Stefani releasing their Christmas standards like the good Nat King Cole or Sinatra lead Rat Pack, the artist who has covered everyone from Dolly ('Jolene') to Cash ('Cry, Cry, Cry') and the group she's part of release an extended play of their own, original Christmas songs to move your 'Christmas Butt' rocking like Robin right around the tree.

"And when it seems too much and you want to set fire to your tree/Just stop and forget all the noise and do this one thing with me/Shake your Christmas butt until your cranky goes away/Shake your Christmas butt for Christmas Day," they say in a light hearted riff and romp that will have you moving around the tree with honest Abe Lincoln and the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan in cardboard cut-out 'Home Alone' Culkin cheek slapping form. Stopping you from going full Lois in 'Family Guy' when you've done everything. Wrapped the presents, hung the decorations on the tree, pit the turkey in the oven, dressed the kids, played peacemaker to all the family drama, saved some egg nog for your neighbours and pulled all the crackers...only for there to be no paper towels. Add it to the playlist under the mistletoe, because this is going to be one of your new Christmas favourites like 'Candy, Candy Lane' by Sia, or 'Christmas In Harlem' by Kanye. But still there's nothing like the classics and just like Tank's E.P., Boots brave the Winter, warming up a live, alive version of 'Silent Night' like all is bright. That is as beautifully welcome and evoking in its embrace like sleeping in heavenly peace this time of year with the one you love and want to see first on Christmas morning as your kids leap into bed for their presents.

Feeling like 'Christmas All Over Again' being around again already, that's not necessarily a bad thing as Puss pokes fire, sticking the boot in under the chimney with their signature guitar as they lament the lonely loss, but warm solitude of never being alone this Christmas when you can count on yourself. Empowering, "I'm gonna hold myself instead of someone else this Christmas/I'm gonna take my hand and be my own best friend". And on 'The Great Romancer' after tooting their own horn as a one man band, the trio get back to love, "all I want for Christmas is an answer" they sing sounding like "man sir", or the anti-Mariah in this brilliant blues record full of a heart of "needles and pine" which would exist outside this time of year without the word "Christmas". As this group since 2014, long awaiting a follow-up haven't lost a step together. But it's the driving home for Christmas, windscreen wipers over frosty snow tuning in, 'It's Not Christmas 'Till You Come Home' (complete with vocal trumpeting) that is the FM for your NPR of these Christmas chronicles. Staying "up all night waiting" like a kid who believes in Dear Santa as Bing Crosby sings, who can't relate to the feeling of, "I won't believe it's Christmas until you make it home to me/The snow isn't white/The stars aren't bright/And lights don't belong on the tree", as we are waiting on the ones we love. Well like jumping up and down like 'Elf'...or watching that very film in August, counting down the days and weeks with months worth of Facebook memes, it won't be long now. A very 'Murray Christmas' to you. No that's no typo. Like his hilarious follow-up post credits cameo in the 'Zombieland: Double Tap' sequel, Bill became a new pair of boots for Puss when he cameoed alongside them in song last year akin to the 'Scrooged' stars own Netflix special featuring Jenny Lewis, Miley Cyrus and the Rat Pack like George Clooney. Now THAT would be your Christmas album as we can't wait for these boots to keep walkin' and writing on that Tom Hanks typewriter from the candy cane artwork. Studio session (this year's 'Angel Dream' single points hope to that), or seasonal one. Because this Puss N Boots Christmas really is an extravaganza to you and yours. Good tidings we bring...and a Happy New Year. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Christmas Butt', 'Silent Night', 'It's Not Christmas 'Till You Come Home'.

BOOK REVIEW: FLEA-ACID FOR THE CHILDREN

4/5

Acid Trip.

Children, Eddie Murphy's Netflix comeback to America, 'Dolemite Is My Name' isn't your only glimpse of 1970's Los Angeles. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea's pre-RHCP memoir 'Acid For The Children' (a 'Scar Tissue' autobiography this is not) is ridden with it. In this 'Acid' reflect of just kids, percussed by a perfect, poetic prologue from the one and only Patti Smith herself. A beautiful book, with the off-key rhythm and blues from a man that always held the bassline like the Lakers he coveted courtside (from Showtime's Magic and Kareem, to LeBron and this new Anthony Davis Hollywood dream (you catch his fellow superfan Ice Cube like season promo?)), but was never afraid to go the Miles of a trumpet solo himself ahead. May we suggest blaring this out in audiobook form? Sure we've been touting that recently like a 30 day free trial. From Kareem himself accompanying this writer vocally whilst alone in Tokyo, to 'Rocketman' Taron Egerton filling in for the prelude and epilogue of the man he played like 'Me' for Elton John's epic life story (and now I have a Flea in my room). But with Flea's legendary and unmistakable cadence you get to hear and feel the impression of every inflection. There's just something about a writer narrating their own work. Just like biographies are so horses mouth better when you put an 'auto' in front like L.A. gridlock at rush hour. Choking up about childhood stories as he tells testimony of the loss of his dear Grandmama making us all all wish he could call up there to our own. This is as real as it gets for the raw life of a man next to his frontman who could make the acid twins of Aerosmith look alkaline. Sweet child of mine this acid test burns with nostalgia and forever memory...for you.

"That man just signed your C.D.", my radio D.J. friend text me (thanks Jon) as I was nosebleed watching Flea walk off stage after the Red Hot Chili Peppers encore on his hands during their 'Stadium Arcadium' tour. I've always felt ink linked like a tattoo or band t-shirt temporary one to Flea's Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Maybe it's because the real best time of your life-my college years-were scored by the undeniable back-to-back like Magic ("yeah...YEAH") soundtrack of the Chili's Autumn like return to Frusciante and form with 'Californication' (1999) and 'By The Way' (2002) when Sony, Discman and rocking one CD all day portably instead of an iPod (or what is it now? Spotify?) was still a thing like MTV and their music videos like the ones for these two titans title tracks where as Hollywood groundbreaking as they were L.A. cool. Or maybe it's just because like me Flea and his itching Peppers are red hot Laker fans for life (we are probably watching the Oklahoma game right now at the same time as I type in Tokyo. Him somewhere in California or wherever in the world tour he's rim rocking like a Globetrotter). From Showtime salad day salutes to Kareem to being kings today like LeBron on rocks throne next to the Foo Fighters...their Boston Celtics...who they can't help but love. Hearing (yep I'm still on that listening tip...despite all that rock in my earbuds) Flea talk about the silk smoothness of a Jamaal Wilkes jumper is as poetic as this sportswriter wishes he could Jim Murray get, as beautifully nostalgic as the memory itself. The game as one. One that Flea describes like the bass or jazzman's trumpet that could still take him higher than any narcotics influence. Yeah drugs are abused through this narrative. Friendships are lost and life comes at a cost. But sobering up to find the real substance in life away from the drugs, Flea shows you what really works (the only thing this man doesn't know is shirts). And because of it takes us all to a higher ground.

'Me' personal like Elton John's moving memoir. As beautiful as 'The Beautiful One's' for Prince's unfinished symphony of an autobiography the man behind the man in the Red Hot Chili Peppers completes a banded together big-three of musical books for your festive feeling wish list this Christmas with the best foreword of the trinity and on a whole just as Springsteen tough as the rest for a man who has had arguably just as important and indelible mark on music for almost as many decades of the 'Crocodile Rock' and 'Purple Rain', from Dodger Stadium to the fabulous Western Forum. And in its audible form Flea shows just why he got the gig acting in films like 'My Private Idaho' with Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix or 'The Big Lebowski' with The Dude and Jesus for a hot minute (and be sure to check him out in his brutally most recent 'Boy Erased' and that unmistakable vocal announcement in 'Toy Story 4' baby driver). Scripting his own life stories, scene and wrap, even hinting at a chronicles sequel and getting the legendary likes of Tony Curtis in the studio and just delivering all his "BOOM, BAP" beat poet, Kiedis rap with his one of a kind energy that can't be spoken by anyone else...as you'll end up reading it off the page as him anyway. You really would want him reading you a bedtime story children. But back to the future like another film this guy starred in before it all began, the Hollywood kid, by way of Melbourne, Victoria revisits his Australian roots down under as this book is all about family and the enduring legacy of the friends who in turn become that too. So even if we don't get Chili...at least until the epilogues genesis, we still get to see some of the Ant man himself. As Flea springs on his decades upon decades making friendship with Kiedis. You man fondly recognise some of the stories from Anthony Kiedis 'Scar Tissue' book...retold with Flea's own signature style. From the hilarious (like the time Anthony got them both skis at a lodge by overcoat and sunglasses dressing up as a woman and putting on his best mother's milk impression...whilst high), to the heartbreaking (like the time he hightailed off apartment rooftops into swimming pools and missed the water by...this...much). What is this? One of the best books you'll read all year and rock anthologies ever. Get dosed with this because after one tote this bohemian behemoth beauty is bliss. Michael Peter Balzary's corrosive for the young punks. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

SONG FOR THE MOMENT: MAGGIE ROGERS-LOVE YOU FOR A LONG TIME

4/5

Love Of Your Life.

Grammy family how do you go about celebrating your first nomination? Do you start practicing martial arts, to ward off a stage bum rushing Kanye West ('Jesus IS King' by the way)? Or do you look to protest like 'The College Dropout', "HEY 'Lover' by Taylor Swift was one of the best albums of 2019"! She should be up here. Well if you're Maggie Rogers-who in what has been HER year alongside King Princess, receiving her very first nomination for 'Best New Artist' (which she should easily win as she also should have the overall 'Best Artist of the Year' nomination and album award for her January, already best of '19 classic 'Heard It In A Past Life' (the second I heard the atmospheric intro on 'Say It' on Spotify I was hooked like I already knew she would be my favourite artist))-you celebrate with champagne and Domino's after dancing around your living room, hand microphone singing, according to her Instagram. Is there a better combination Papa John? Oh...and you also gift your fans with a new song, you lyric notepad Twitter teased on tour for days. All to say 'Love You For A Long Time' like the Stan's writing their own fan letters. Dear Maggie.

But who is this song that sounds like a combination of almost each element of every track off this years album, the falsettos of the top 'Dog Years' off the 'Now That The Light Is Fading' E.P., a beautiful B-side, or even the lead single of a new album (we can only hope), for an artist who has more gems on the cutting room floor already (see 'James') than most have in a greatest hits collection about? Romantic love. Friendship and family love. Band love and fan love. "It's about love in all forms," Maggie says on this infectious and instantly catchy track like the common cold this Autumn, that light fading still captures that summer evening feeling. "I want it to sound like the last days of summer" she adds with this release for what like a fountain of youth twenties firework we wish could be a forever feeling. Ledger Joker hanging out the car that looks like it's 66 road trippin' like the Red Hot Chili Peppers "two favourite allies" in a red 'Dog Years' video sweater. Complete for the artwork of a Joni sixties feeling photograph with Maggie Rogers handwritten logo script almost in instantly recognisable Springsteen signature across like an 'American Beauty' E.P.

Sounding "as wild and alive as new love feels". This fond folky Americana that sounds like something your Mamas and Papas used to listen to in California. "Came in like a vision from the old west wind/Like a bright new dream that I was stepping in/I saw your face and I knew it was a sign/And I still think about that moment all of the time", she sings. Singing about "getting lost in your diamond eyes" and finding what is her own signature sound that is as timeless as it will now be traditional to her, Maggie makes us all relate to our first loves when she talks about, "And in the morning when I'm waking up/I swear you're the first thing that I'm thinking of/I feel it in my body, know it in my mind/Oh, I, I'm gonna love you for a long time." We all know that loving feeling being brought back. It's kind of like 'Alaska'. Kind of like the first time we heard her sing. Knowing it was going to last forever. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REVIEW: ELTON JOHN-ME

4/5

His Majesty.

Regaling us with story after story, don't say the glam queen bitch is back. He's been here for years. Taking his farewell tour after decades and decades of star spangled music from the Great British national treasure-from 'The Lion King', to Princess Diana tributes-around the world and Phileas Fogg back again. And this crowning glory has been the 'Rocketman's' year of coronation with his bags packed, zero hour, nine AM. With his 'Kingsman' sequel co-star Taron Egerton taking the throne as him in a beautiful and bohemian biopic from Queen, 'Rhapsody', Rami rivalling director Dexter Fletcher. And now after all this behind the same star sunglasses Arnold Schwarzenegger donned for 'Terminator 3', Elton John gets really personal and diamond sequin and feather boa stripped down and away in 'Me', his long awaited autobiography. Not his first book, his AIDS awareness mission statement, 'Love Is The Cure' demands everyone's attention. But this in the same year as an unsanitized, coke and all biopic-as blow brutal as it is big and beautiful-is his most personal project yet. And probably the best book and most musical, amazing autobiography since Steven Tyler of Aerosmith's 'Noise In My Head', the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Anthony Kiedis' 'Scar Tissue', or Rolling Stone Keith Richards' 'Life' (we're yet to get to Prince's unfinished 'The Beautiful Ones' out now too. But can hardly wait). "Sea turtles mate". The last one was audiobook read by 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' son Johnny Depp. Even more fittingly here after a perfect prologue read by Sir Elton-before he supposedly goes off to shop-the perfectly named 'Me' is read by none other than, you guessed it, Taron Egerton himself. And this audiobook version of the autobiography (the voice keeping me company so I'm not lost in translation, trying to teach in Tokyo, Japan like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's audiobooks when I was travelling Hong Kong during a depression) needs a lent ear as the relationship between actor and star muse is much more than music, or even acting. Egerton's epic and energetic reading of 'Me' (or him) like his portrayal of the pop star is an incredible dedication to the man. With just as much charismatic character as the words wrote. Dare I say the best one/two, dynamic duo since Bernie and the 'Benny and the Jets' singer? Cue the piano introduction.

You'll laugh at the fact that 'Stan' Grammy collaborator that Elton sobriety sponsors, Eminem calls him a "C U Next Tuesday' everytime he calls. You'll shed a tear at the last story about dear John Lennon. He talks about 'Heartbreaker' Ryan Adams inspiring him despite the cancelling controversy. He tells us while he still plays Russia and would rather "build a bridge" with Putin than "a wall" (take that you know who). He also speaks candidly and fairly about the queen Madonna without backing out of the corner in defending the Godmother of his first child Lady Gaga from Madge's slights. The born star is this way, his way and the highway only. From taking a truck full of bandmates across the country, backing up soul acts who told him to kill Reg Dwight as he ended up taking his bandmates names, to wanting to die on stage like a Last Vegas residency until he started a family that was worth more than all the Troubadour and trouble that got him to this point. A true lion never flickering like a candle in the wind. From Pinner to Disney. Hollywood and Buckingham Palace. A friend of the royals by decree and our king of queens by knighted appointment. The crown is his like Claire Foy or Olivia Coleman and he takes his throne in this entertainment game with a tilt and tip to everyone who helped build his musical castle. And even those who threw rocks at one of rock and rolls greatest like a Rolling Stone. There's even a hilarious story about being "high as a kite by then" and thinking the great American songbook of Bob Dylan was homeless. But much like how John has found a residence in those classic Sinatra standards at his live shows, his own epic, eclectic catalogue of a collection now belongs in the Great British rock and roll songwriting hall of fame with Bernie Taupin like the crown jewels that they are. And you get plenty of words behind the lyrics to go here for a man who has worked with everyone from Fall Out Boy to A Tribe Called Quest.

But this is his song. And none rings truer that the ode to family and matrimony to that. For better or worse, cradle to hearse. It's a little bit funny (as a matter of fact it's f###### hilarious. The amount of times I've bust out laughing in public from him telling someone to take something and shove it up their proverbial arse). But there's so much more feeling inside. Especially when it comes to the Dwight family circle of life. From the 'Tiny Dancer' days of playing in pubs were 'Saturday Night Was Alright For Fighting', to the 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing' and swinging days atop the piano of baseball bat knocking it out the Dodger Stadium park in a jazzled, diamond encrusted uniform, Reg has always kept his family close and the enemies he's made because of that closer. Life wasn't easy for Elton growing up with his parents and that didn't elude him when fame came his way. Coming out to the world and being a LGBT pioneer for being true to who you are before we even put those letters together with us as a society. Not to mention a groundbreaking, life changing advocate for AIDS research, in search for a cure as strong as love. But in a world were were  seems to be the hardest word, Elton still gives his everyone candidly and in hindsight, honestly and reflectively in hope that we will learn from his mistakes aswell as be boldly inspired with the many things he did beautifully right. Overcoming drink and drugs was one of John's greatest struggles and challenges he overcame down the yellow brick road, but some of the people in his circle throughout his life became his true sacrifice. But it's all come back round to a love you can feel tonight like his family with David Furnish. As the man who was once lip synced by 'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr. (the amazing anthem 'I Want Love') and pop superstar Justin Timberlake (the dressed up 'This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore' which showed J.T. was almost capable of playing Sir Elton like Tom Hardy) in magnificent musical videos now has his own movie and book to take on the road as the show goes on. Heartfelt and hilarious, with so much tongue for your cheek. This is the perfect program for his Farewell Tour like 'Rocketman' is the movie, musical soundtrack that scores like Watford for the chairman of this board, sure there's a lot of me in 'Me'. But what else would you expect from Elton? And I personally wouldn't have it any other way than his way. Me oh my! TIM DAVID HARVEY.