Four Tet - 'There Is Love In You' (Domino Records)

Four Tet - There Is Love In You (Domino Records)

Monday, February 15th, 2010 | Sounds

It’s been a while since I’ve paid much attention to Four Tet, the artist first heralded in the early 2000s for kickstarting the so-called “folktronica” scene because he combined samples of folk instrumentation with electronic sounds. Nearly five years have passed since the British producer released a proper full-length (“Everything Ecstatic” in 2005) under the Four Tet moniker. Instead, he opted for a foray into the improvisational jazz world, collaborating with drummer Steve Reid for four albums(!) and releasing them under his real name, Kieran Hebden. The 2006 two-disc compilation “Remixes” showcased some of his remix work of tracks by disparate artists like Boom Bip, The Notwist, Andrew Bird, Radiohead, Badly Drawn Boy, Beth Orton and many others. Interesting, yes, but “Remixes” simply didn’t have much staying power for me.

It was the 4-song EP “Ringer” in 2008 that caught my attention again. Sparse, minimal and more rooted in techno than anything else he had released before, “Ringer” seemed to signal Four Tet was moving into a different direction. Then, in 2009, Hebden collaborated with the celebrated UK producer Burial (an old high school friend), cooking up a gorgeous two-track 12” (“Moth” and “Wolf Cub”) that further proved Four Tet’s diversity. Yet, with “There Is Love In You,” Four Tet has truly broken new ground, a blissful musical journey that never seems to waver throughout all nine tracks. Though it comes off like Hebden is embracing a simpler structure, emphasizing more straightforward 4/4 techno beats, keyboards and synth washes that previous works, it’s clear the tracks are still complex and meticulously crafted the more one dives into them.

The album opens with “Angel Echoes,” a slow builder using a cut-up female vocal sample interspersed with a sprightly beat and crackly aural fractals. It’s a nice opening, setting the stage for the rest of the album, though it’s really “Love Cry” that gets the blood pumping. Eloquently layered, with an elegant slow build, creamy synths, and crisp, punchy beat, “Love Cry” is a smooth ride that just soars into the stratosphere. “Circling” opens with an enchanting harp string loop and a dull, throbbing 4/4 beat. Then, when the chimes kick in, your head feels awash with delight as the layers continue to build upon themselves, then back off and settling into a sparse groove, before the female vocal loops enter the picture and you’re swept away again. It even ends well, stopping with a sudden halt that works. “Sing” crackles with forward motion, with it’s driving 4/4 beat, choppy layers and clicks, whereas “This Unfolds” is exactly that, unfolding slowly and gracefully awash in twinkly synths and perky beat that feels like the aural equivalent of a relaxed smile on a warm, sunny day. While “Reversing” is short, subtle and tranquil, “Plastic People” punches the BPMs back up tactfully, as chirpy bleeps are interspersed with a shuffling beat and thin percussion. The final track, “She Just Likes To Fight,” actually succeeds in feeling like an album closer, combining stylish guitars with soothing keyboards and lazy beat, providing a graceful conclusion for the listener. “There Is Love In You” is the kind of album that improves the more one listens to it and just might Four Tet’s best album yet. There’s plenty of lovin’ to be had with this record. Now go get it.

By Tim Pratt

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