Four Tet - 'Remixes' (Domino) Released 25/09/06

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Kieran Hebden, otherwise known as Four Tet, offers up another slice of left field genius after his recent collaboration with Steven Reid on ‘Exchange Sessions’ Volumes One and Two. Selected from Hebden’s favourite remixes this latest album contains some true gems, including mixes of Radiohead, SIA and Aphex Twin.

In his hands Radiohead’s ‘SKKTRBRAIN’ gains an added naïve quality among the smattering of disjointed beats. Bouncing synths add a quirky, kitsch quality to ‘One Year’ by Hiphop act His Name Is Alive. The standout track on the album comes from ‘Breathe Me’ by SIA, with added slow rolling reggae beats and slinking salsa rhythms that give the song real depth.

Elsewhere Aphex Twin is made to sound a bit like the kind of lifeless background music played in most hippy shops. It falters only briefly though, adding a rougher edge to Mad Villain’s ‘Great Day’ that makes it more City of God than straightforward gangsta rap. ‘Pick Up’ by Bonobo wanders into the realms of jazz and Rothko’s ‘Roads Become Rivers’ gains a more ethnic, tribal quality.

Hebden says he finds "working within the constraints of someone else songs challenging", but it’s what he does best.  By adding new layers he lifts the songs out of themselves and, although occasionally jarring and bizarre, they sound all the better for it. Beth Ortons ‘Carmella’ gains added punch and is turned into a rambling 11 minute epic and Bloc Party’s ‘So Here We Are’s gains an added ethereal brilliance.

In some senses it feels like these songs would be better performed live, given more room to roam around, to breathe. Spanning 6 years this a collection of songs that Hebden has lived with and they continue to improve after repeated listening.