Once again, Keiren Hebden--aka Four Tet--has set the bar high for what can be done with dance music. Kicking off with "A Joy" (doing exactly what it says in the title), the benchmark for the whole album is set early, based around a frenetic fuzz bass riff and a drum loop, interspersed with backwards percussion, it?s simultaneously uplifting and also terrifying. The following "Smile Around The Face" is another literal title, this time far more explicit in its positive vibe; more drum loops, but this time with a grin-inducing samples halfway between birdsong and organ. In fact, the drums are probably the raison d?etre for this album; in the same way that DJ Shadow?s Endtroducing was a masterpiece of what can be done with drum breaks and instrumental snatches, so this album follows the same path, but on a less aggressive scale. The vigorous "Sun Drums and Soil" morphs into a jazz-tinged number; while a few of the tracks ("You Were there With Me" and "Clouding") are more collections of ambient chimes and noises. It?s redundant to pick a highlight on such a strong collection; just enjoy. --Thom Allott
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