LA producer and rapper Thavius Beck is definitely a name to keep an eye out for – but then it’s not a name that proves easily forgotten. The same is true of his music, for ‘The Most Beautiful Ugly’ is an ambitious and daring album that takes hip hop beats as its blueprint, but works in a much more expansive style. The intro, ‘Eye Of The Beholder’, sets out the widescreen sound, orchestral in scope and with massive beats that give the music weight. Vocals are at a premium but are profound when used, though generally Beck lets his music do the talking. ‘ABV’ has a powerful tread, while ‘Labward Bound’ takes a needle sharp trumpet solo and reworks it into chaotic beats. When the vocals do crop up there is a lot of auto-tune, but it’s used creatively throughout and for the good of the overall sound. The best compliment I can pay to Thavius Beck is that nothing sounds like him right now – and the louder you turn this music up, the more emotional impact it brings. Excellent and well worth investigating.
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
5 out of 5
