Released July 10, 2013 via SCM Music
The Beatles’ back catalogue contains some of the most covered songs in pop music history, from “Yesterday” to “Something” to “Michelle,” but somehow we have only just received an entire album of shoegaze covers of the Fab Four’s biggest hits. Earlier this month, Japan’s Meeks debuted Beatless, a shoegaze tribute to the Beatles. And weirdly, it works.
Shoegaze music, though famous for its layers of guitar feedback, is at its heart just another evolution of pop music. Iconic shoegaze tracks like Ride’s “Vapor Trail,” Chapterhouse’s “Pearl,” and Lush’s “Sweetness and Light” share a common theme – beneath those layers of fuzzy guitars lies a gorgeous melody. The Beatles should have been given the My Bloody Valentine treatment years ago; even buried in shoegaze style, the Beatles’ melodies stand out and carry these tracks.
Beatless kicks off with “Across the Universe” — always one of the Beatles’ dreamier tracks — and the shoegaze cover doesn’t deviate much from the original. This album gets interesting when it tackles the more involved melodies of songs like “Something” and “And I Love Her.” It’s still easy to remember that these are Beatles songs at their core, but Meeks take the originals and transform them into something entirely different. And for this, Beatless may not appeal to Beatles purists.
Some music historians have called 1966’s “Tomorrow Never Knows” the first shoegaze track ever recorded, so it makes sense that Meeks included it here. Meeks’ cover sounds little like the original and more like “Soon” from My Bloody Valentine’s shoegaze standard, Loveless. The legendary “Strawberry Fields Forever” becomes more Slowdive than Magical Mystery Tour but pays homage to its roots with a psychedelic guitar loop.
Through its 10 tracks, “Let It Be” is Beatless’ standout track. I’ve spent my entire life adoring this Beatles classic and its melancholic vocal line translates well to shoegaze. Clocking in at almost seven minutes long, “Let It Be” is a sonic journey of shadowy vocals, guitar loops, and layers of fuzz. Beatless closes with “In My Life,” a haunting cover built around the legendary tune.
Overall, Beatless is a solid shoegaze record. Diehard Beatles fans may not see its unique appeal, but it makes for one crazy interesting listening experience.