Vinyl Reports

Fans of Beck David Hansen know that this multitalented singer/songwriter, producer/performer is something of a musical chameleon who delivers his music cross-pollinated in rock, folk, Latin, hip-hop, and even symphonic sounds. This all made his triple-Grammy-winning February 2014 Capitol LP Morning Phase all the more of a surprise, as it was a lush slow-moving, ambient-flavored, acoustic-driven masterpiece that commands rapt attention from listeners. The new Definitive Sound Series (DSS) reissue of Morning Phase from Fonograf/Capitol, which was released back in December 2025, makes it easier than ever to kick back and just float upstream with Beck’s music.

Indeed, I came onboard with Beck’s music around the time of his gorgeous singer/songwriter September 2002 LP on Geffen, Sea Change, an album where he mostly pushed aside those more trendy, edgier production aesthetics to just focus listener attention on his songwriting. I loved that album immediately, and always hoped there would someday be another one along those lines. That materialized 12 years later when its stunningly beautiful sequel of sorts Morning Phase came out in 2014, in many ways surpassing its predecessor.

An instant favorite that year, I was generally very pleased with the original 2014 180g pressing from Capitol (cover shown above), and how the recording sounded overall. The album itself is rich, sumptuous, inviting, warm, and round, just like a good analog recording should sound. Except Morning Phase wasn’t likely a purely analog production. It was a well-made recording nonetheless, having been created at no less than eight top, and some quite legendary, studios (and as many engineers!) around the world, including Ocean Way in Hollywood and Nashville, Gang in Paris, and RAK in London. The original album was mastered by the now retired and rightly acclaimed audio engineer Bob Ludwig (listed as “Robert” in the credits).

Like Sea Change before it, Morning Phase, as a song cycle, is not hip or trendy, nor even really rocking. Yet, underscoring the simple power of timeless songwriting and production, the album won three — count ’em! — of the most revered Grammy Awards that year: 1) Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical; 2) Best Rock Album; and 3) Album of the Year.

Thus, my excitement was piqued upon learning that Morning Phase was being rereleased as part of Interscope/Capitol’s fine DSS audiophile vinyl reissue series. (Footnote 1) Let’s now dig in to unpack the underlying DNA of this album, from a variety of sources.

According to Music Direct, Beck’s Morning Phase was mastered from the 24-bit/96kHz vinyl file originally created and mastered by Bob Ludwig. The vinyl disc mastering (and lacquer cutting) was reportedly handled by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering, while the One-Step process was driven by Dorin Sauerbier at RTI, where the final vinyl was pressed.

From past releases, we know how DSS releases are put together. Featuring the original album artwork, each 180g DSS LP is packaged in tip-on gatefold jacket, “crafted to the highest archival standards,” and housed in a custom-designed DSS slipcase that showcases the album art, tracklisting, and One-Step process details (slipcase cover shown below). Each LP comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, “giving the owner a guarantee of mastering, plating, and pressing details.”

The DSS version of Beck’s Morning Phase is a one-time, limited-edition 180g pressing of 3,000 numbered copies. The disc itself comes housed in an audiophile-grade, plastic-lined, RTI-branded inner sleeve. Morning Phase is available from Music Direct for a DSS series-standard SRP of $99.99, and you can order it here, or via the MD link graphic ahead of the tracklisting section below.

For those not familiar with One-Step vinyl manufacturing, in short, and as the title implies, it quite literally eliminates certain procedural steps in the traditional LP production process. Reducing these steps is intended to minimize signal degradation. I began reviewing One-Step titles in 2022, and have generally been impressed with the results.

The official Certificate of Authenticity included in the Morning Phase package spells out the nitty-gritty underlying the vinyl used for making this deluxe edition release: “This DSS One-Step record was pressed using the finest vinyl compound available, Neotech VR900, on legendary SMT Presses. D2 vinyl is known for its ultra-low surface noise and revealing as close as possible what was created in the studio. It was manufactured under strict quality control measures to ensure the definitive listening experience.”

Still, as excited as I was upon receiving this new DSS edition, I went into this review with guarded anticipation. I mean, Morning Phase was always a pretty great-sounding recording to begin with, so I admittedly wondered to myself: How can this version sound that much better?

To that point, I can indeed confirm that the DSS Morning Phase is extremely quiet, allowing the music to pour forth from your speakers in an even more transparent manner. Mastered a bit more quietly and less compressed, this DSS LP offers a more open-sounding listening experience on vinyl, unfolding as you turn up the volume on your amp. Frankly, Morning Phase is one of those albums that sounds great at all volumes, something that isn’t always the case these days.

Now that we’ve addressed the technology behind this DSS release, it might be helpful to take a step back and explain why Morning Phase is such a great musical listening experience — and one that is very different from much of Beck’s catalog, which includes “Loser,” the smash breakout hit from his March 1994 major-label debut LP on DGC, Mellow Gold.

Like 2002’s Sea Change (cover shown above for context), this album is arguably an homage to the singer/songwriter sounds of the early 1970s, with fresh modern twists that make the music feel decidedly of the 21st century. If you can imagine, Morning Phase is kind of like what might have happened if a mostly unplugged Flaming Lips or Radiohead was fronted by Pacific Ocean Blue-era Dennis Wilson — with his Beach Boys brother Carl Wilson providing harmonic support — while recording Jack Nitzsche-like arrangements in Neil Young’s California barn studio, circa his 1971-72 Harvest phase. Seriously, Morning Phase is worthy of all those comparisons, because it is woody, earthy, and grounded, and yet somehow also ambient, otherworldly, and ethereal-feeling. Yeah, it’s that good — and the new DSS edition of Morning Phase is an excellent audiophile presentation of this music.

Overall, the DSS edition of Morning Phase is more widescreen, delivering a greater sense of separation and detailing. It is a bit brighter than the original LP, but not in an off-putting way — it’s about hearing more of the nuance retained in those original 24-bit/96kHz Bob Ludwig masters.

For example, the acoustic guitar opener on “Heart Is a Drum” (Side 1, Track 3) is much more alive and realistic-sounding than the original 2014 Capitol pressing, while Beck’s vocals now leap gingerly from the speakers, reminding me no less of some of Pink Floyd’s mellower, introspective moments.

To that, “Turn Away” (Side 2, Track 4) is a song that plays like a lost, post-Floyd David Gilmour solo tune — which makes sense butted up against the following song, “Country Down” (Side 2, Track 5), one that opens with chords evoking the feel of the Roger Waters’ “Pigs on the Wing” (the brief bookended track from January 1977’s Animals) before taking off into the aforementioned Harvest-era Neil Young territory.

These recordings feel remarkably atmospheric and progressive all on their own, in that room-filling way in which Pink Floyd’s music could deliver an ultimately engrossing home listening experience. In fact, I find certain parts of Morning Phase reminiscent of the mellower moments of my personal favorite of their albums, September 1975’s landmark LP, Wish You Were Here.

Since Morning Phase was self-produced, I do have to complement Beck’s attention to the little details that add up collectively, and which matter in the end. He achieves very distinctive separation of the richly layered acoustic instruments on “Say Goodbye” (Side 1, Track 4), and I especially appreciate how the banjo comes in from way over to one side of the soundstage. That sort of detailing is also very apparent on “Unforgiven” (Side 1, Track 6), as atmospheric effects chime in from outside the core listening area — almost as if they were being played offstage, if you were listening to the band performing a concert hall environment.

Other favorite moments include the riveting “Blackbird Chain” (Side 2, Track 3), and the album-closing epic, “Waking Light” (Side 2, Track 6).

Overall, I am very pleased with the new DSS edition of Beck’s Morning Phase. Even though there was a very slight notion of an off-center pressing on Side 1, it did not impact the music at all — a great relief, believe me! I always liked the sound of Morning Phase, and with this new DSS edition the music sounds more open and sparkling compared to the original edition.

If I have any complaints, it is simply that, given the price point, it would have been nice if the powers that be had included some sort of liner-notes insert exploring the background of the recording and how it was crafted. That said, I do like the new gatefold design of the cover art, which very effectively repurposes the original paper insert from the single-pocket original pressings. And I very much appreciate that they also recreated the original black design Capitol Records label for this edition.

As to our ratings, I can give Morning Phase an easy 10 for the Music, as it is one of the best pop-oriented recordings of 2014, and of the Aughts in general. I’m happy to give this recording a solid 10 for Sound, even with its digital roots. If it someday gets granted a double-LP 45rpm edition, we’ll find out whether that rating might go to 11. (Footnote 2)

But for now, a 10 rating is pretty great, especially for an album that was made across so many studios around the world. There is remarkable consistency track to track, which is a testament to Beck’s vision as a producer. Morning Phase certainly deserved its trio of Grammy awards, and it remains a timeless work of art.

Author bio: Mark Smotroff is an avid vinyl collector who has also worked in marketing communications for decades. He has reviewed music for eCoustics, among others, and you can see more of his impressive C.V. at LinkedIn.

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Footnote 1: AP editor Mike Mettler adds: Want more DSS reviews? See Mark’s takes on the inaugural 180g 2LP DSS editions of A Perfect Circle’s May 2000 debut Mer de Noms and Dr. Dre’s benchmark December 1992 debut The Chronic here, which posted as a combo review on December 19, 2025.

Footnote 2: Mettler again. I first saw Beck perform at Emo’s in Austin during SXSW on March 17, 1994, right at the height of “Loser” mania (and I briefly chatted with him after he dropped in on his friend Roger Manning’s set at a much smaller, less attended venue), but that’s a story for another time. Anyway, my copy of the Morning Phase DSS LP (No. 0051/3000) was flat, well-centered, deep black, and very much quiet, so I turned the volume up a bit more than I usually do for this one. I concur with Mark that the hauntingly evocative “Blackbird Chain” (Side 2, Track 3) is a favorite track here, followed closely by “Waking Light” (Side 2, Track 7). An enjoyable tone-break kind of listen from start to finish, I give the Music of Morning Phase a 9.5, and the Sound 9.5 as well. Bring on more Beck LPs in the DSS series if possible, please! (Yes, I know including “series” after the DSS abbreviation is somewhat redundant, but it’s being used there for emphasis!)

BECK
MORNING PHASE
180 1LP (Fonograf/Capitol)
MUSIC: 10
SOUND: 10

Original album produced by Beck Hansen
Original album mixed by Tom Elmhirst with Ben Baptie at Electric Lady Studios (New York)
Original album recorded at Ocean Way (Hollywood & Nashville), Blackbird (Nashville), Gang (Paris), RAK (London), Capitol (Hollywood), Sunset Sound (Hollywood), and The Library (Los Angeles)
Original album mastered by Robert Ludwig, Gateway Mastering
DSS Vinyl Mastering by Levi Seitz at Black Belt Mastering, from 24-bit/96kHz Ludwig master files
DSS One-Step Process by Dorin Sauerbier at RTI
DSS Pressing at RTI

Side 1
1. Cycle
2. Morning
3. Heart Is A Drum
4. Say Goodbye
5. Blue Moon
6. Unforgiven

Side 2
1. Wave
2. Don’t Let It Go
3. Blackbird Chain
4. Phase
5. Turn Away
6. Country Down
7. Waking Light