Four Tet - 'Pause' (Domino)
4/5
By: Toby L
Four Tet is the solo venture of Kieran Hebden - a man that has played bass with Badly Drawn Boy and been a part of the try-anything-once, alt-rockers, Fridge, a band with which he has released numerous records. 'Pause' is Hebden's second album in the name of Four Tet ('Dialogue' being the first release from this incarnation). He's just 23 years old. You'd be justified in commenting, 'Wow,' to yourself as you read.
Where the predecessor to this record left off with ramblings through loose jazz rhythms and textures, 'Pause' precedes to deliver that which hasn't been explored before. This comes in the form of - yes - computer keyboard taps ('Glue of the World') and the tick-tocks from clocks, before explosions to a very street-sounding foray of beats and arrangements which conjure up images of busy crowds in late evenings. Well, it could do for some people. The fact is that each listener to this record will pick up on different compositions, allowing heads to swill with the motions and directions that the songs guide you through: this will most likely be a personal and unique journey for each person.
The hip-hop tendencies in most tracks often lure you to expect some mouthy MC to rant off any second, but that moment thankfully never arrives, the music enough of a companion to an open-minded ear. A ringing resonance reveals a certain alignment by which you feel that, although there are a sparse amount of styles, everything all works in tune with each other, as some kind of perfect harmony, if you will.
Comparisons to more mainstream acts: difficult to do, but certainly the essence of Fatboy Slim's start-stop, stop-start structures exist. However, where Mr. Norman Cook uses scratching and smart editing to create such an effect, Four Tet manages to combine such an element with a fair display of instrumental variation, providing a more natural, organic tone.
This album isn't recommended to those that enjoy big beat, popular cuts. Instead, it should appeal to the music fan which enjoys a collection of genres housed under one roof in a slick, but homely and accomplished production. For this fan, 'Pause' is a record that will certainly prohibit you from pushing that button on your stereo, which marks the album's title: you'll just have to listen to the end.
Artists in this article: Four Tet
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