Beck has opened up to Argentinian publication Pagina12 about a previously undisclosed “severe” injury that has affected his ability to play music in recent years. 

“I had some injuries, I had severe damage to my spine, but now it’s improving so I’m back in the music. It was a long, long recovery. Lately I concentrated on playing guitar. Do not think I can move again as before, although I can give a lot onstage.” [translated from Spanish]

A la Thom Yorke , Beck also has a few gears to grind regarding Spotify, saying “I think the saddest thing about streaming is the issue of sound quality. . . it’s like watching The Citizen [NB – this might be Citizen Kane] on your phone. That’s what people are listening to!“

For all Beck’s apparent health travails, he’s certainly been busy: he put-out the sheet-music-only Song Reader in 2012, produced a lavish 360-degree version of David Bowie’s ‘Sound and Vision’, taken part in Doug Aitken’s Station to Station art happening, and released a clutch of singles to boot.

Beck is schedule to release his first album in five years, Morning Phase, in February 2014.

[via The Future Heart]