Produced himself while collaborating with audio mixer Nigel Godrich, the finished 12-track full-length album marks his 15th major commercial release to date, one built around melodic vocals and orchestration. For the recording sessions, Beck reunited with musicians from his Sea Change and Morning Phase eras, signaling a return to that same intimate and cinematic soundscape that varied from the core inspirations of Hyperspace.

The three singles that previewed Ride Lonesome call back to what audiences praised from the critically acclaimed Sea Change and the Grammy Award-winning Morning Phase. As the title track, “Ride Lonesome” arrived as an introduction last April, eventually released as an expanded version featuring Sierra Ferrell. It has an old-school feel that resembles many classics, with the acoustic guitar and drums acting like a character of their own beside Beck’s vocal lines.

“In the Night” paired with a music video starring French actor Denis Lavant, its string arrangement fills the air hypnotically. Recently, “Disappearing Act” finished the trilogy of singles, leaning into a quiet restraint that favors understated arrangements and lyricism over the wide-ranged genres Beck has previously harnessed under his belt, including funk, hip-hop, country, and psychedelia.

Beyond the singles, the tracklist carries songs like “Run Away,” “Failed Words,” “Slow Canyon,” and “Falling Through My Hands,” the latter of which are already favored alongside “It Ends Right Here,” as moments where Ride Lonesome briefly differentiates itself.

In 2019, Hyperspace came to fruition at a time when Beck was parting ways with his then-wife, Marisa Ribisi. Leaning toward synth-pop and new wave, Hyperspace deals with the emotional rollercoaster of solitude and disconnection. Backed by production from Pharrell Williams, Beck stylistically changed course, deviating from the acoustic-lined Sea Change and Morning Phase toward a more retro-futuristic world. Now, Beck returns with Ride Lonesome, a stripped-down return to his folk-inspired roots that sounds familiar.

Order Ride Lonesome by Beck HERE