Rounds

Cast your eye over the vista of modern-day music – 25-year old Kieran Hebden’s second offering under the Four Tet moniker has come right in time. Rounds is a cross-fertilisation of innovation and pop sensibility, and has a warmth and understated charm that many other obtuse, more indulgent knob-merchants would gladly sell their Powerbook for. In fact, this album sounds as though it were nothing short of a joy to assemble, and the sounds themselves seem to be linked to the very notion of creation.

‘She Moves She’ for example, is fused with a freshness, immediacy and unique personality that belies Hebden’s age, while ‘My Angel Rocks It Back And Forth’ mixes pretty harp strings with trippy beats. ‘Unspoken’ should warm the cockles of any DJ-Shadow-centric heart; expect to hear it on a hyper slick car commercial before the year is out.

Hebden is currently producing the new Beth Orton album, and one can only imagine how these pure textures would sound fused with a lilting female vocal. If he manages to stay true to the sensibilities displayed on Rounds, Beth’s album will be nothing short of a joy to behold. Rounds is the type of album that will take you from your post-work Friday evening moments through the golden moments of a weekend, yet will still be kind enough to soothe your Monday morning blues. Or any other sort.