Four Tet – Sing review

Artist: Four Tet
Title: Sing
Label: Domino
Genre: Broken Beat/Nu Jazz
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download

Having been through many different phases and stylistic shifts, Kieran Hebden aka Four Tet is going through a very rich period at the moment, shifting away from IDM and “folktronica” and subtly moving toward more dancefloor-friendly material. Sing first surfaced on a mix that was handed out on the last night of his residency at London’s Plastic People. Hebden used these nights to play out works in progress and gauge their reaction from the crowd. It’s since appeared on his fifth and latest album There Is Love In You and has now been plucked as a single by Domino.

Based around one tightly arranged loop of jumbled up lead sounds, other subtle tones are slowly added to the mix until a pared down but steady beat is added. It’s a beautifully quirky and charming tune that doesn’t suffer from being repetitive – while the basic loop stays the same throughout Hebden keeps the listener hooked by letting a plethora of sounds wash over the song, including some Bjork-like vocalising at one point.

London’s much raved-about Floating Points scores a real triumph with his mix, which will prove a delight for DJs. The beat gets fully worked into a funky 2-step with parts from the original syncopated brilliantly to it, all the while developing and unfolding as in Four Tet’s version. There’s even a dramatic breakdown to silence before the tune builds itself back up glacially slow. The effect is mesmerising.

Review: Oliver Keens