Arquivo Perdido (2025, Bootleg)
In 1994 nothing had the impact in my life as discovering Back for the first time. Truly one of those life-changing discoveries that forever altered my path. I'm not sure I'd be doing this dumb website had I not found his records. Or if I was, it would certainly be a lot different than it is today. As I delved into the Beck rabbit hole back then, I discovered that he had all sorts of weirdo indie releases to try to find. Multiple other albums, 7"s, a 10", compilation songs out the wazoo and the Golden Feelings tape.
To this day, I've never been able to track down an original copy of this grail of a tape. I've tried and tried and it's aways been one of those things either just out of reach, either because of availability or cost. The original label that released the tape, Sonic Enemy, did a small run of CDs in the late 90s and I was able to get one of those, but it quickly went out of print again. I assume these aren't Beck's favorite songs, especially considering the direction his music has taken the past couple of decades, so odds seem slim that it'll get an official release. Thank goodness for whoever in Brazil decided that they should bootleg this.
I assume it's just the CD pressed on vinyl and you know, I'm totally fine with that if it gets the record into my collection. It sounds great. This was a 4-track recorded bedroom tape, there isn't any sort of fidelity that could be lost transferring this to vinyl. Couldn't be happier that it just exists.
Musically, this thing is all over the place, and I love it for that. There's straightforward acoustic songs, taped infomercial soundbites, confrontational noise and general weirdness. You have one of my very favorite Beck songs, the epic storytelling "Heartland Feeling," and you also have whatever craziness "Special People" is. "Special People" was one of the first songs from Golden Feelings that I had heard as it and 2 other songs from this album ended up as b sides on the Pay No Mind CD single in 1994. They certainly didn't pick the 3 best songs to put on there, but it sure made me want to hunt the album down even more.
Ever want to hear the actual recording of "No Money, No Honey" that beck did before his man-on-the-street version on Stereopathetic Soulmanure? It's on Golden Feelings. And early version of Mellow Gold's "Mutherfukka?" That's here too. There's so much to unpack and while I can't say it's an easy listen for the uninitiated, it's a very rewarding one as it lays the groundwork for Beck's unreal 1994 deluge.
I am hopeful that I'll be able to find a legit cassette copy of the original release of Golden Feelings. It's one of those things that really should be in my collection. But for now, this LP and my old CD copy will have to do.
Beck - Golden Feelings:
https://youtu.be/MieZ50rYRuQ?si=GiijL-7rRvvXPhoK
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