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.
Flutter
Four Tet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And the worst part is there's no one else to blame
Be my friend, hold me
Wrap me up, unfold me
I am small, I'm needy
Ouch, I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found
Yeah, I think that I might break
Lost myself again and I feel unsafe
Be my friend, hold me
Wrap me up, unfold me
I am small, I'm needy
Warm me up and breathe me
Be my friend, hold me
Wrap me up, unfold me
I am small, I'm needy
Warm me up and breathe me
The lyrics to Four Tet's song Flutter depict the singer's vulnerability and struggle with self-harm. The singer sings of hurting themselves and feeling lost and unsafe. They plead to be held and warmed up, emphasizing their neediness and smallness.
The repetition of the phrase "be my friend, hold me" showcases the singer's longing for comfort and connection. They may be feeling isolated and alone, leading them to self-harm as a coping mechanism. The final line, "warm me up and breathe me," highlights the importance of feeling alive and present in the moment amid emotional pain.
Overall, the song portrays the difficulty of grappling with mental health struggles and the necessity of seeking out support and connection in times of need.
Line by Line Meaning
Help, I have done it again
I am struggling with a recurring problem and need assistance.
I have been here many times before
This is a familiar and repetitive pattern in my life.
Hurt myself again today
I have caused harm to myself, both physically and emotionally.
And the worst part is there's no one else to blame
I take full responsibility for my actions and the consequences that come with them.
Be my friend, hold me
I am reaching out for emotional support and a comforting presence in my life.
Wrap me up, unfold me
I need someone to take care of me, to hold me tightly and protect me from harm.
I am small, I'm needy
I am vulnerable and require the attention and care of those around me to feel secure.
Warm me up and breathe me
I need someone to provide me with warmth and comfort, to be present with me as I try to heal and recover.
Ouch, I have lost myself again
I feel disconnected from myself and my sense of identity.
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found
I feel lost and unsure of who I am, and I am struggling to find my way back to myself.
Yeah, I think that I might break
I am at my limit and fear that I may not be able to handle the weight of my struggles much longer.
Lost myself again and I feel unsafe
My lack of connection to myself has left me feeling vulnerable and exposed, like I am in danger.
Be my friend, hold me
I am still in need of support and care, and I am asking for help from those around me.
Wrap me up, unfold me
I need someone to continue providing me with love and protection, to help me find my way back to a sense of safety and security.
I am small, I'm needy
I recognize my vulnerabilities and am asking for help from others to overcome them.
Warm me up and breathe me
I am still seeking warmth, comfort, and care from those around me in order to heal and recover.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COLIN BOYD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Adativs
Even after so many years, this track still sends shivers down my spine! One of my all time favourite remixes.
@tomshoot
I was writing the same ... <3
@brunoanthoine860
There is no word to express the feeling of listening to this remix
@stanislavsd
heard this remix ages ago, yet after so many years I find it ingenious
@ArikSauer
one of the best recordings ever!!!
@divisivecottonwood
Truly epic track. Amazing
@smylomort9169
Still sounds freakin amazing. love you Mr Hebden
@HalfChainsaw01
Pick Up by Bonobo was featured on SSX Tour, the snowboarding video game. EA Sports had some really really amazing soundtracks.
@joshmanakajosh
I need to see a drum cover of this.
@gt_kenny
awesome track!