Beat Noir Explained

Beat Noir
Type:	studio
Artist:	Spahn Ranch
Cover:	Spahn Ranch - Beat Noir.jpg
Released:	^[1]
Recorded:	February –
Studio:	H & H Productions
Length:	45:51
Label:	Out of Line/Sub/Mission
Producer:	Matt Green
Prev Title:	Retrofit EP
Prev Year:	1998
Next Title:	Anthology 1992-1994
Next Year:	2000

Beat Noir is the fourth studio album by Spahn Ranch, released on October 19, 1998 by Out of Line and Sub/Mission Records.^[2] It was reissued on November 24 of that year by Cleopatra Records.^[3] The final track "An Exit" was licensed to Cleopatra Records to be released on the various artists compilation The Black Bible in 1998.^[4]

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."^[5] 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.^[6]

Accolades

Year	Publication	Country	Accolade	Rank	class=unsortable
1998	CMJ New Music Monthly	United States	"Top 25 Dance"	7	^[7]
			"CMJ Radio 200"	130	^[8]
			"RPM"	9	^[9]
"*" denotes an unordered list.

Personnel

Adapted from the Beat Noir liner notes.^[10]

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

External links

• Beat Noir at iTunes

Notes and References

1. Becky . Barnhart . Schwann Spectrum . . Stereophile, Incorporated . 2000 . 9 . 2 . 246 . 9781575980782 . August 17, 2020.
2. gileZ . Down on the Ranch: An Interview with Athan Maroulis of Spahn Ranch . Cybase23 . May 1996 . August 17, 2020.
3. Web site: MacKenzie . Wilson . [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000007354/biography|pure_url=yes}} Spahn Ranch > Biography ]. . August 17, 2020.
4. Web site: Keith . Farley . [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0000044560|pure_url=yes}} Various Artists: ''Vampire Themes'' > Overview ]. . August 20, 2020.
5. Book: Thompson, David . Dave Thompson (author) . Spahn Ranch LPs: Beat Noir (Cleopatra) 1998 . Alternative Rock: Third Ear – The Essential Listening Companion . . November 1, 2000 . 648–649 . 9780879306076 . August 17, 2020.
6. Matthew . Moyer . Spahn Ranch: Beat Noir . Ink 19 . February 11, 1999 . August 17, 2020.
7. Tim . Haslett . Dance Top 25 . . CMJ Network, Inc. . July 1997 . 47 . 50 . August 17, 2020.
8. Kelso . Jacks . Station Profile: CMJ Radio 200 . . CMJ Network, Inc. . December 28, 1998 . 47 . 17 . August 17, 2020.
9. Kelso . Jacks . Station Profile: RPM . . CMJ Network, Inc. . December 28, 1998 . 47 . 26 . August 17, 2020.
10. Beat Noir . Beat Noir . . 1998 . boolet . Out of Line/Sub/Mission . Berlin, Germany/Firenze, Italy.