Howie Beck's work is best described as a musical form of somnambulism, neither enjoying an untroubled sleep nor wide awake enough to sift through and rationalise events. Elliott Smith-like in its communication of both exhaustion and despair, the Toronto-based songwriter's third album contains some of his most plaintive compositions to date. A hitherto one-man band, Beck is here supported by Ed Harcourt, Leslie Feist and Nada Surf on 13 songs for the small hours. Fragile things, they benefit from the threadbare arrangements. Occasionally, their honesty makes you want to look away. But standouts such as How Do You Feel and Please soon draw you back.
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