Beat Noir is the fourth studio album by Spahn Ranch, released on October 19, 1998, by Out of Line and Sub/Mission Records. It was reissued on November 24 of that year by Cleopatra Records. The final track "An Exit" was licensed to Cleopatra Records to be released on the various artists compilation The Black Bible in 1998.
Reception
AllMusic gave Beat Noir gave two and a half out of five possible stars. Music critic Dave Thompson said "from the infectious opening riff of "Fire Lives in the Hearts of All Men," to the near reverent melodies entwined within the synth structure of "Ride like Lightning Crash like Thunder," a tight, edgy, yet absolutely hummable album that is solid throughout." Ink 19 was negatively critical of the album's misdirected experimentation and claimed that Athan Maroulis' vocal choices were unsuited for the album's genre.
Track listing
Accolades YearPublicationCountryAccoladeRank 1998 CMJ New Music Monthly United States "Top 25 Dance" 7 "CMJ Radio 200" 130 "RPM" 9 "*" denotes an unordered list.
Personnel Adapted from the Beat Noir liner notes.
Spahn Ranch Matt Green – programming, keyboards, production, mixing Harry Lewis – percussion Athan Maroulis – lead vocals
Additional performers David J – bass guitar (6, 10) Eric Powell – programming (1)
Production and design Mick Cripps – design Eric Fahlborg – mastering Steve Tushar – engineering, mixing
Release history Region Date Label Format Catalog Germany 1998 Out of Line/Sub/Mission CD OUT 029, cd WHIP047 United States Cleopatra CLP 0420
References
External links Beat Noir at iTunes