Album Review: Four Tet - Rounds (Tenth Anniversary Reissue)

Four Tet's Rounds is now ten years old and has been deemed worthy of receiving the “anniversary reissue” honour. The album marked a brilliant point in Four Tet's career and contains some, perhaps most, of his greatest work.

It was with Rounds that Four Tet aka Kieran Hebden was able to best reconcile his experimental, free jazz and post-rock passions with danceable beats, pop flourishes and genuine heart. The opening one-two punch of Hands and She Moves She showcases just how frustratingly talented Hebden was at 24. The wild and lush free jazz backing and glitch driven noise of Hands is given warmth and listenability by the relaxed and effortless beats as it flows into She Moves She, which turns a loud, looped beat into something human and passionate with delicate guitar backing.

The cohesiveness of the album cannot be ignored – a story or concept may not be present, but a strong emotional core and humanity flows through Rounds, even in its more chaotic and experimental moments. Not that there isn't fun to had here – As Serious As Your Life is groovy as hell and an instant dance classic.

The reissue is supplemented by a second disc live set, recorded in Copenhagen around the time of the album's release. It too shows Four Tet's mastery of electronica; experimenting and pushing sonic boundaries, but never so much to interrupt a good beat or ruin a groove.

Rounds is easily one of the most forward thinking and progressive electronica releases from the early 2000s. Jazz, psychedelica, club music, and pop are seamlessly mixed together and broadcast through Four Tet's passionate and sincere ideas. If you're yet to hear this record, now's a great time to amend that.