Over the past decade Beck Hansen has been satisfying two very different musical personas: on one hand we have the hip-hop embracing Guero, and on the other we have the darker-melancholic Sea Change. Modern Guilt finds it self in a similar position to its predecessor, The Information, as musical chameleon and psychedelic poet Beck struggles to resolve his increasingly introspective musings with an upbeat, lo-fi style.

Finished midway through May, Modern Guilt marks the end of Beck's major-label record contract. Beck and co-producer Danger Mouse, also known as the taller half of Gnarls Barkley, worked together intensely for two and a half months to achieve what is usually takes about two years. The result is a subversive summer album that pits narratives of a spiritual journey against catchy beats and Gnarls Barkley-esque rhythms.

Many critics have likened Beck's 10th LP to a spiritual midlife crisis. A haunting narrative accompanies album opener ‘Orphans' elative melody, as Beck questions what the soul is made of, and whether he is due for a visit from his "maker". While the introverted and personal focus of the lyrics can seem slightly self-indulgent and vain Beck's very nature means that anything is there for exploration and experimentation: from folk, electronica and hip-hop to his own mind.

The short, violin-laden ‘Walls' is a cynical reflection on foreign policy and the occupation, as Beck's lingering vocals soar over the distinctively sparse drum loop. Modern Guilt certainly indulges Beck's love of 60s/70s music as songs such as ‘Replica' hark back to his golden years, invoking acid-trip guitars, as the lyrics become a murmur of indecipherability accompanied by descending piano keys.

Modern Guilt does disappointingly lack those classic singles, such as ‘Loser', through which Beck established himself as the King of alternative music. "I'm tired of people who only want to be pleased/ But I still want to please you" sings Beck on album closer ‘Volcano.' It is perhaps the most personal song on the entire album, as Beck cautiously reveals the tension and pressure on him to please his long-established fan-base.In the past Beck was defined by his ability to create off-the-wall music, paired with ironic, carefree lyrics but Modern Guilt is gloomy, bitter and depressing. However, despite moving away from the unabashed fun and unique timbres one is accustomed to with Beck, this new clutch of songs give their own lasting, unpretentious impression.