Beams (The Presets album)

The track, ‘Steamworks’, is named after a gay bathhouse in San Francisco Bay Area. The track is still one of the duo’s favourite songs. Julian Hamilton said “The song is just ‘oo’s and ‘ah’s, but it has a strong character -- that’s hard to do,”[2]

The album includes a few instrumental interludes which Kim Moyes says “I think those little interludes [on Beams] are so cool,”, however interlude would only feature on this album due to the band wanting to be "as vocal and up-for-it as possible.” when making their second album, Apocalypso (2008).

In an retrospective interview with the band, Moyes says “I re-listened recently when we had to approve all the masters for its vinyl reissue,”...“And it’s fucking awesome!” he recalled, “In the early days of Modular, there was always talk of, ‘Which producer do you want to work with?’,”...“But we only wanted to do whatever weird thing we do, warts and all. For better or worse, we don’t really sound like anyone else.” “That’s the best thing about Beams,” Hamilton agrees. “It sounds like The Presets.”[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Pitchfork	3.7/10[3]
PopMatters	7/10[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]

The album received mixed to positive reviews. AllMusic called the album an "uneasy yet unforgettable combination of '80s gaudy pop flair and dark, propulsive rave beats".[1] Pitchfork, on the other hand, gave it a low 3.7/10 rating, writing "the most frustrating thing about Beams is that Moyes and Hamilton both know better".[3]

The Guardian gave a three star review and observed, "The Australian duo begin by apeing Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, with singer Julian Hamilton out-grunting Jacko, and conclude with the title track, which features a synthesized banjo. In between, introspective synth-pop shares space with gothic disco and a gnarly rave monster, Hamilton apparently tapping out the beats on his larynx as he sings." concluding, "There is much to enjoy here, but Beams sags under the weight of too many ideas. Perhaps next time we'll get to see behind their masks."[6]

The Presets

• Julian Hamilton – vocals, keyboards, mixing
• Kim Moyes – drums, keyboards, mixing

Additional musicians

• Felix Bloxsom – drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 11)
• Phil Stucky – Trombone (tracks 2, 8, 12)
• Sam Dixon – bass and guitar (track 4)
• Kendal Cuneo – girl vocals (track 4)
• Veronique Serret – violin (track 12)
• Matthew Watson – violin (track 12)
• Zoe White – viola (track 12)
• Leah Zweck – viola (track 12)
• Rachael Maio – cello (track 12)
• Daniel Johns – acoustic guitar (track 12)
• Warwick Payne – guitar (track 12)

Technical

• ¥ Benjamin ~ DePriest
• Scott Horscroft – mixing
• Emerson Todd – mixing
• Mike Marsh – mastering
• Lyn Balzer – photography
• Anthony Perkins – photography
• Jonathan Zawada – art direction

• Beams at Discogs (list of releases)