Customer Reviews

Four Tet

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This record is a grower. I was ambivalent about it the first time, now I love it. "Ringer" in particular - it's a bit like Rhythm is Rhythm's "Strings of Life", not in its sound, but in its extraordinary restraint. The moment when the live drum set kicks in is just astonishing.

I enjoy this little CD, but not because I'm listening intently to find something, or catch some Four Tet similarity to anything. What is 'Techno' anymore, anyway? This EP is excellent listening to view the world, from your car window or bicycle or the Metro on the way home.

On Ringer, a generously portioned EP, Hebden dials back his frenetic eclecticism, instead turning out ambitious yet danceable techno. And not unlike a Towers of Asia record, it's a hugely rewarding and interesting listen.

I wish I had listened to this album before I had bought it. I'm a pretty big Four tet fan, and I didn't think I needed to listen to Ringer to ease my fears of not liking it. That was a mistake.

This album is straight techno. I'm not saying that techno is bad, but it's not what Keiren is known for, or what he excels at. It's incredibly repetitive, and minimalistic.

If your into the techno scene, you may like this. If your checking out Four tet for the first time you may want to check out Rounds or Everything Ecstatic. Lastly, if your a Four tet fan, beware.

I have to disagree with the previous review - I think this is the best Four Tet release since Pause. It IS techno, but a most excellent example of the genre, imo. Hypnotic, straight-up four-to-the-floor beats that evolve in a lovely manner over the course of each track. I'd love to hear more from Kieran in this vein.

In his hardheaded attempt at trying to distinguish himself from his previous work(s), Kieren Hebden has reached rock bottom musically. I must say, I'm not a big fan of techno to begin with but what I hate more than techno is bad techno. It's very hard to review music or critique films but it's even more difficult when you're dealing with something so basic and obnoxious as Ringer. It's overly minimalistic and posh at the same time.

If you're into Four Tet's work with Steve Reid, give it a go, if you've started to enjoy less and less of Hebden's work since "Everything Ecstatic", just go ahead and throw this one in the gutter.

Effectively, Four Tet pigeonholed himself.