Hebden's solo work typically utilises samples lifted from various sources including hip-hop, electronica, techno, jazz, and folk mixed with his own guitar playing. Four Tet shares some stylistic similarities with other musicians, such as Prefuse 73, who use computer editing techniques that give the music a staccato, cut-up feel. Hebden's music is notable for its rich, organic sounds and harmonious melodies as well as for eschewing the traditional pop-song format in favour of a more abstract approach.
Kieran Hebden began releasing material as Four Tet in 1998 with the 36 minute and 25 second single "Thirtysixtwentyfive" on Trevor Jackson's Output Recordings label. Later that year, he released a second single, the jazz-influenced "Misnomer". 1999's "Dialogue", again on Output, was Four Tet's first full-length album release and fused hip-hop drum lines with dissonant jazz samples. This was followed by the double A-side single "Glasshead"/"Calamine", which was to be Four Tet's last release on Output.
In late 1999, Warp Records released a tenth-anniversary compilation of remixes of Warp tracks; Hebden contributed a remix of "Cliffs", the opening track of Aphex Twin's "Selected Ambient Works, Vol. II". This relatively high profile exposure attracted a lot of new interest in Four Tet from fans of electronica and IDM, genres in which the Warp brand had a preeminent status.
In 2001, Four Tet's second album "Pause" was released on Domino and found Hebden using more folk and electronic samples, which was quickly dubbed "folktronica" by the media & press in an attempt to label the style (often also applied to artists such as Isan, Gravenhurst and some of Canabrism's later work). The acoustic guitar track "Everything Is Alright" is the theme music for the National Public Radio talk show On Point, produced at WBUR in Boston, Massachusetts; it was also featured in a US Nike commercial in 2001-2002 and in the Sony Bravia commercial in 2005.
"Rounds" was released in May 2003. It was Hebden's most ambitious album to date, incorporating diverse samples such as the mandolin on "Spirit Fingers", and even a rubber duck on the closing track "Slow Jam". Three singles were released from the album: "She Moves She", "As Serious as Your Life", and "My Angel Rocks Back and Forth". This last single was released as an EP featuring remixes by electronica duo Icarus and Isambard Khroustaliov along with additional Four Tet tracks "I've Got Viking in Me" and "All the Chimers". An accompanying DVD featured all of Four Tet's videos to date.
At the beginning of 2003, Four Tet opened for Radiohead on their European tour. A remix of the song Scatterbrain from Radiohead's latest album "Hail to the Thief" was included on their 2004 EP "COM LAG (2plus2isfive)".
A live album named "Live in Copenhagen 30th March 2004" was released in April 2004 as a limited edition, available only through the Domino Records website.
In March and April of 2005, Four Tet performed two shows of improvisational music, in collaboration with jazz drummer Steve Reid, in Paris and London. He also appears on Steve Reid Ensemble 2005 album "Spirit Walk". This collaboration was extended into a series of international tours, and the release of two albums, "The Exchange Session Vol. 1" and "The Exchange Session Vol. 2" over the course of 2005 and 2006.
His fourth studio album "Everything Ecstatic" was released on Domino on 23 May 2005. The video for the lead single, "Smile Around The Face", features actor Mark Heap. The album brought with it another shift in style, leaving behind the breezy "folktronica" of "Pause" and "Rounds" for a darker, more complex sound. On 7 November 2005, Domino has released a DVD version of "Everything Ecstatic" featuring video clips for each track of the album plus a CD with new material.
Hebden has also remixed, under the Four Tet name, tracks by a wide range of artists including Madvillain, Bloc Party, Super Furry Animals, Beth Orton, Badly Drawn Boy, The Notwist, Boom Bip, Kings of Convenience, Explosions in the Sky, Radiohead, and Doves.
0181
Four Tet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
راهم به قبر و سنگ گرانیت می رسه
هر روز به قتل می رسم و شعر من فقططط
به انتشار شعله ی کبریت می رسه
دردم هزار ساله مثل درد حافظه
درمونشم همونیه که کشف رازیه
نسلی که سر سپردهء عصر حجر شده
به ساقیای ارمنی پیر راضیه
تنها به جرعه های فراموشی دلخوشم
راسکول نیکوف یه پیرزن شقه کرده و من
با اون تبر فرشته ی الهام رو می کشم
هی مست می کنم مثل یه بطری شرااااب
که وقتی پاش بیوفته یه ککتل ملوتفه
یه مجرم فراری شدم که توی زندگیش
درگیر یه گریز بدون توقفه
فرقی نداره جاده ی چالوس و راه قم
من مستی ام که خوش داره رانندگی کنه
یه ماهی که تو آکواریووم زاار می زنه
تا توی اشک های خودش زندگی کنه
باید تلو تلو بخوری این زمونه رو
وقتی که مست نیستی به بن بست می رسی
تو مستی ادما دوباره مهربون می شن
حتی برادرای توی ایست بازرسی
می خندن و به دست تو دست بند می زنن
راه رو برای بردن تو باز می کنن
توی دام مورچه ها به سلیمان بدل می شی
قالیچه ها بدون تو پرواز می کنن
این بار چندمه که به یه جرم مشتررک
80 ضربه پشتتو هاشور می زنه
برگرد خونه حتی اگه با خبر باشی
تنها دل خودت برای تو شور می زنه
The lyrics of Four Tet's song 0181 are in Farsi and talk about the complexities of life, pain, and the escape that can come from losing oneself in alcohol. The song paints a picture of a person who feels like a mere flower in this world, with their journey heading towards the grave and granite stones. They express feeling like they're dying every day, and their poetry only makes sense when a match is lit, igniting the flame of the cigarette. They feel the pain they have is like a memory that's been alive for a thousand years, and the disease they have is the same one that holds the key to the secrets of the world. They reference a generation that has been left behind in the Age of Stone and can only find solace in the wise Armenian wine server.
The person then goes on to describe how life is like a theater, filled with exquisite performances. They feel that the only way to find joy is through forgetfulness and escaping reality. There's a mention of a lady named Raskolnikov who they drew inspiration from, and they feel like they are pulling each stroke of their pen with the same intensity she had. In their drunken state, they feel like a criminal running away from life, but they refuse to stop. They talk about how it doesn't matter which road you take in life, whether it's the Chalus Road or the path leading to Qom, as long as they have the sweet rush of being under the influence. They compare their existence to that of a fish in an aquarium, swimming around and living amidst their tears.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of hopelessness mixed with the need to escape reality, all while trying to find meaning in one's poetry and the deep-seated pain that comes with life.
Line by Line Meaning
من یه گلایولم که توی این سرزمین شوووم
I am a small flower in this land
راهم به قبر و سنگ گرانیت می رسه
My path leads to the grave and granite stone
هر روز به قتل می رسم و شعر من فقططط
Every day I struggle to survive and my poetry suffers
به انتشار شعله ی کبریت می رسه
My poetry is ignited like a match flame
دردم هزار ساله مثل درد حافظه
My pain is a thousand years old, like the pain of memory
درمونشم همونیه که کشف رازیه
My essence is the same as the discovery of a mystery
نسلی که سر سپردهء عصر حجر شده
A generation that is the guardian of the Stone Age
به ساقیای ارمنی پیر راضیه
Satisfied with an Armenian wine server
وقتی که زندگی یه تئاتر مزخرفه
When life is a worthless theater
تنها به جرعه های فراموشی دلخوشم
I am only happy with sips of forgetfulness
راسکول نیکوف یه پیرزن شقه کرده و من
Raskolnikov has killed an old woman and I, with an inspired hand, do the same
با اون تبر فرشته ی الهام رو می کشم
With that ax, I strike the angel of inspiration
هی مست می کنم مثل یه بطری شرااااب
I get drunk like a bottle of wine
که وقتی پاش بیوفته یه ککتل ملوتفه
That when the cork pops, it becomes a mixed cocktail
یه مجرم فراری شدم که توی زندگیش
I became a fugitive criminal in my life
درگیر یه گریز بدون توقفه
Caught in a never-ending escape
فرقی نداره جاده ی چالوس و راه قم
It doesn't matter whether it's the Chalus road or the road to Qom
من مستی ام که خوش داره رانندگی کنه
I'm intoxicated, enjoying my driving
یه ماهی که تو آکواریووم زاار می زنه
Like a fish swimming in an aquarium
تا توی اشک های خودش زندگی کنه
Living in its own tears
باید تلو تلو بخوری این زمونه رو
You have to chew slowly on this era
وقتی که مست نیستی به بن بست می رسی
When you're not drunk, you end up in a dead end
تو مستی ادما دوباره مهربون می شن
People become kind again when you're drunk
حتی برادرای توی ایست بازرسی
Even your brothers in the inspection station
می خندن و به دست تو دست بند می زنن
Laugh and shake your hand
راه رو برای بردن تو باز می کنن
They open the way to take you away
توی دام مورچه ها به سلیمان بدل می شی
You are replaced by Solomon in the ant trap
قالیچه ها بدون تو پرواز می کنن
The carpets fly without you
این بار چندمه که به یه جرم مشتررک
How many times have we committed the same crime?
80 ضربه پشتتو هاشور می زنه
80 punches hit your back
برگرد خونه حتی اگه با خبر باشی
Go home even if you know what's waiting for you
تنها دل خودت برای تو شور می زنه
Only your own heart beats excitedly for you
Writer(s): Kieran Hebden
Contributed by Colton T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kem1kal
this record is so underrated. it's one of my favourites by him
@MrFrussel
9.43 is so magical :)
@99letters99
always nice four tet.
@stracloud
Thank you. This is nice.
@gingerblondee
Great album *.*
@Minko_Television
eu
@henrykannberg8261
hebden bridges
@Pazaluz
The part that starts at 19:40 is amaaaziiingggly good
@juanluisclaure6485
yes it is
@damianventurasanchezgonzal9348
0181 000 010