Four Tet - 'Everything Ecstatic' (Domino) Released 31/05/05

Kieran Hebden returns once again to the fray with an album that baffles as much as it dazzles. The guitarist of Polydor signed post rock band Fridge hits us with another Four Tet compendium that all too often sounds like the side project that it is.

 Opener ‘A Joy’ is good but certainly does not live up to its title and sounds like free jazz played by a robot… On PCP. ‘A Smile Around The Face’ though, which is next up, does exactly what it says on the tin. A chipmunk sounding sped up vocal, a bumpin’ beat and bleeps and glitches with the cheer of an episode of Sesame Street mash together to form the highlight of the whole LP. Much like a schoolboy virgin getting his nuts for the first time Everything Ecsatic peaks way too early. There are other moments of quality on here but that’s what they are, moments. ‘Sun Drums & Soil’ sounds amazing for the first three minutes but as its more than twice that the space jazz grates after a while.

The prevailing theme of happy avant electronica is just way too much; there is nothing on here to rival anything on Warp records. There are some good phrases and loops but nothing coherent enough to be deemed suitable for anything but a niche audience which is disappointing. The quality of ‘High Fives’ an almost impressive ballad, and the afore mentioned ‘A Smile Around The Face’ is heavily bogged down by the obscurity of most of the other offerings.

At a time when Electronica is undergoing something of a rebirth its disappointing to hear a sub standard album letting the side down like this. Hebden garnered acclaim for making albums solely on his laptop and it would seem that will be the only thing this Four Tet project will garner acclaim for.

Don’t give up the day job.