Bécs (album)
| Bécs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 28 April 2014 | |||
| Recorded | 2013–2014[1] | |||
| Studio | Amann (Vienna)[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 43:27 | |||
| Label | Editions Mego | |||
| Fennesz chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bécs is the sixth studio album by Austrian electronic music producer and guitarist Fennesz, released 28 April 2014 by Editions Mego. The album has been described as a conceptual and sonic successor to Fennesz's well-received 2001 album Endless Summer and is his first solo release since 2008's Black Sea.
Background
Bécs is described as a departure from the drone music influences of Black Sea, instead featuring contemporary pop music structures.[2] Pitchfork noted the album's "twinkly and bright" melodies, with the album's use of distortion "(walking) a tightrope between oceanic envelopment and repellant destruction."[3]
The track "Paroles" is notable for a stripped-down sound that does not feature as many audio effects as most of Fennesz's work.
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 8.1/10[4] |
| Metacritic | 86/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Exclaim! | 9/10[7] |
| Fact | 4/5[8] |
| Mojo |  [9] |
| Pitchfork | 7.8/10[3] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[10] |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.8/5[11] |
| Tiny Mix Tapes | [12] |
| Tom Hull | B+ ( )[13] |
| Uncut | 9/10[14] |
Bécs was well-received by critics upon release; it currently holds a score of 86 from Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".[5]
London-based music magazine Uncut praised the album, calling it "an entirely ravishing aesthetic experience."[14] Exclaim! published a similarly adulatory review, writing that, "With Bécs, Fennesz achieves the near-impossible, crafting a musical sequel that retains the energy, vision, and flow of its predecessor."[7]
Pitchfork gave Bécs a generally positive review, remarking that it was "often gorgeous" but arguing that its sonic similarity to Endless Summer "makes you wonder about motivation."[3]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny Mix Tapes | Favorite 50 Music Releases of 2014 | 32
|
|
| Uncut | The Best Albums of 2014 | 38
|
Track listing
All tracks are written by Christian Fennesz, except "Sav" by Fennesz and Cédric Stevens.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Static Kings" | 5:46 |
| 2. | "The Liar" | 4:37 |
| 3. | "Liminality" | 10:00 |
| 4. | "Pallas Athene" | 6:10 |
| 5. | "Bécs" | 5:43 |
| 6. | "Sav" | 7:35 |
| 7. | "Paroles" | 3:36 |
| Total length: | 43:27 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[1]
- Werner Dafeldecker – bass guitar (1)
- Martin Brandlmayr – drums (1)
- Tony Buck – drums (3)
- Martin Siewert – drums recording (3)
- Cédric Stevens – modular synthesizer (6)
- Rashad Becker – mastering
- Tina Frank – cover design
References
- ^ a b c "Bécs | Fennesz". Bandcamp. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "Bécs, by Fennesz". Fennesz. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
- ^ a b c Richardson, Mark (30 April 2014). "Fennesz: Bécs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
- ^ "Bécs by Fennesz reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Reviews for Bécs by Fennesz". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
- ^ Thomas, Fred. "Bécs – Fennesz". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ a b Sylvester, Daniel (25 April 2014). "Fennesz: Bécs". Exclaim!. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
- ^ Pattison, Louis (6 May 2014). "Bécs". Fact. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ "Fennesz: Bécs". Mojo (248): 95. July 2014.
- ^ Franquelli, Alex (23 June 2014). "Fennesz: Bécs". PopMatters. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ Stanciu, Raul (28 April 2014). "Fennesz - Becs". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ Griffin, Alex. "Fennesz - Bécs". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ Hull, Tom. "Grade List: Fennesz". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Fennesz: Bécs". Uncut (205): 76. June 2014.
- ^ "2014: Favorite 50 Music Releases of 2014 (page 2 of 5)". Tiny Mix Tapes. December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "The Best Albums Of 2014 – The Uncut Top 75". Uncut. 19 December 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
