There inevitably comes a time when rock musicians lose the plot, when inspiration departs and they should (if they can bear it) gracefully step into retirement. Though he's now entering his fifth decade of recording, that sad hour is yet to arrive for Jeff Beck, for You Had It Coming is a belter. A genuinely powerful musical document, it stays true to his traditionalist leanings while keeping one foot firmly jammed in a techno-dominated present. This has much to do with drummer Steve Alexander, bassist Randy Hope-Taylor and producer Andy Wright. Throughout they create a frenetic, driving and often thunderous backdrop, deliberately messy yet somehow still in line with modern productions--imagine Led Zeppelin's John Bonham messing about with the Prodigy. On top of this, Beck lays a wilful and unusually sparse blues guitar, distorted to the max, his stabs and picks coming over like contemporary techno bleeps. Very cool, very soulful and far from the self indulgence you might expect.

Mostly instrumental, the album does include two vocal performances from Imogen Heap. "Dirty Mind" features her sampled pant, while "Rollin' And Tumblin'" sees her moaning the blues--though more in the style of an indie triller than a whiskey-drenched mama. This vocal oddity though only adds more intrigue to an already turbulent sound. All in all, this is a splendid return. --Dominic Wills