Mutations

11/03/1998 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

The latest effort by the multitalented Seņor Hansen was initially set to be released by the indie Bong Load label, so the spin on the album is that this isn't the "official" follow-up to the Beckster's critically acclaimed, 1996 Grammy-winning Odelay--that Mutations is a "space-age folk" album closer in spirit to Beck's indie folk album One Foot In The Grave or the experimental Stereopathetic Soul Manure.

Don't believe the hype. While there isn't anything as instantly appealing on Mutations as Beck's breakthrough hit "Loser," the hip-hop jam "Where It's At," or the rockin', riff-heavy "Devil's Haircut," this is not an indie acoustic record. Rather, Mutations is a well-produced and diverse album that reveals more of Beck's considerable talents.

While there are a handful of acoustic-based tracks ("Cold Brains," "Bottle Blues," and "Sing It Again"), Mutations is really much more. On "We Live Again," which recalls the majestic balladry of Echo & The Bunnymen and Babybird, Beck croons like he has never before. Elsewhere, the album's first single, "Tropicalia," picks up the loungey bossa nova groove last heard on "Deadweight" from the A Life Less Ordinary soundtrack.

With the exception of "Tropicalia" and the album-closing hidden rocking freak-out track, Mutations is a fairly subdued affair, but it's definitely nothing to downplay. In fact, the more introspective side of Beck suggests that this Hansen will be making interesting records long after the Hanson brothers grow up.