Beck and Stephen Malkmus head into the studio

It's like Mick Jagger with John Lennon! Notorious BIG with Eminem! Jacqueline du Pré with Yo-Yo Ma ! After being friends for more than a decade, Beck and Stephen Malkmus have finally teamed up in the studio. Little is known about what has brought the 90s slacker-rock stars together. While Malkmus is busy performing with Pavement, their reunion tour will end later this year. Then, the lazy-lipped lyricist will return to his solo project: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. According to Mojo magazine, Beck met with the Jicks earlier this year. What did they work on? A new Beck-Malkmus concept album? The new Jicks record? A single or a B-side? There is a rumour that Beck was working as producer, as he's done before for Charlotte Gainsbourg and Jamie Lidell. Malkmus has produced his last two solo albums himself. Whatever the nature of the project, it will likely be released through Matador Records, Malkmus's US label. And we're unlikely to hear it until next year, when Malkmus says goodbye to his Pavement pals and returns to his solo career. Speaking to music journalist Barney Hoskyns 10 years ago, Malkmus referred to Beck as his "one rock star friend, besides Justine Frischmann ". We suspect he has many more now.