Geoff Barrow of Portishead makes up one third of this new band out of Bristol England. Their debut self-titled album was recorded in a small room over a twelve day period. Comparable in terms of sound to bands such as Can and Tortoise, Beak's debut is very much like Portishead's last album in that it has an overall dark mood to it. There are some brilliant moments on this album but the rushed production of it is ultimately what prevents it from being truly great. Had the group taken more time to edit the album they would've realized that a couple of the tracks plod on with no payoff. Nevertheless Beak have their moments of greatness here. Opener "Backwell" begins with a precise bassline that moves along like a heartbeat and then breaks out half-way into Krautrock bliss. "Battery Point" is another highlight track that would give bands like Radiohead a run for their money. Throughout the album I couldn't help but notice the influence of Can in the music. In the sixth song, "Iron Action", the influence is undeniable:
Despite it's disappointing moments Beak's debut is not one to pass up.
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