"A Different Beat" is Gary Moore's twelfth solo studio album, released in September 1999 by Castle Music. This album marked a significant shift in Moore's musical direction, moving away from his established blues and hard rock sound towards a more experimental pop approach. Collaborating with Ian Taylor and musicians like Roger King and the E-Z Rollers, Moore sought to fuse modern dance rhythms with his signature guitar work.
The album is notable for its incorporation of keyboards, loops, samples, and programmed dance beats, alongside Moore's bluesy guitar solos. Stylistically, it drew comparisons to artists like Apollo 440 and Fatboy Slim, the latter being the inspiration for the tribute track "Fatboy." Moore also covered Jimi Hendrix's "Fire" on the album.
Despite its experimental nature, A Different Beat was a commercial disappointment and left many of Moore's fans confused. While some critics appreciated his willingness to take risks, Moore later disowned the album, reflecting his complex relationship with this phase of his career.
Though Gary Moore is widely recognized for his hard rock work in the 1970s and 80s, his 1990 blues-based album Still Got the Blues marked a significant turning point, achieving both critical and commercial success. This success led him to continue exploring blues on subsequent albums like After Hours (1992), Blues Alive (1993), and Blues for Greeny (1995). However, he made a surprising shift in style with Dark Days in Paradise (1997), venturing into experimental pop infused with Britpop and electronic influences, which puzzled many fans and resulted in poor sales.
Moore's exploration of modern dance music, inspired by his younger girlfriend, set the stage for A Different Beat. He aimed to create dance music that incorporated his guitar, a concept he felt hadn't been fully realized. This required him to adapt his guitar playing to fit different tempos, leading him to collaborate with the E-Z Rollers and Roger King. Moore sought out the E-Z Rollers after being impressed by their work and was pleasantly surprised when they responded positively to his demo.
Recording took place in 1998 at Marcus Recording Studios in London, with Moore co-producing alongside Ian Taylor. The album featured a blend of programmed beats and traditional guitar work, showcasing tracks like "Worry No More" and a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Fire," with contributions from Gary Husband on drums. Despite its ambitious direction, A Different Beat was met with mixed reactions, and Moore later distanced himself from the album, reflecting on its challenges and the experimental nature of his late-career endeavors.
