'Everything' electronic

Four Tet laptop guru Kieran Hebden seems to have abandoned the beautifully sublime "folktronica" stylings found on his 2003 release Rounds, replacing them with a glitchier, eclectic collage of free jazz samples, and darker, beat-driven tracks on his latest release, Everything Ecstatic.\nApart from the 23-second "Fuji Check," noticeably absent are tracks that pay homage to gamelan ensembles, lutes and other worldly influences that have come to define Hebden's quirky brew of synthetic artistry. Gone are the days of lullaby melodies and eerily delicate lines that evoke somber introspection, as Everything Ecstatic finds Hebden exploring the synthetic possibilities of a sound rooted in the organization of frenzied jazz, anxious beats and in-your-face melodies. There is a real authoritarian feel to this release, and that is welcomed as past Four Tet releases have lacked strong direction, but this album has too much filler and not enough meat.\nThe opening track, "A Joy," sets the tone for the album -- a gritty, rough around the edges, up-tempo track that will undoubtedly be used for a car commercial as soon as some middle-aged advertising executive catches whiff. "Smile Around the Faces" is next and is the closest Hebden has come to composing a pop tune. An incredibly catchy melody in Chipmunk falsetto is repeated to no end, complimented by tastefully childish bells, percussive atmospherics and playful synth glitches. "Smile Around the Faces" infiltrates the consciousness of even the most anti-pop of listeners. There is no sense in fighting Hebden's near mystic ability to invade your brain; he'll leave when he is good and ready. \nThe downside of Everything Ecstatic can be linked to tracks like "Sun Drums and Soil." Like much of the album, "Sun Drums and Soil" is riddled with overtly choppy drums, predictable starts and stops and a constant feel of spiraling in and out of control. Hebden pushes his editing techniques to new heights, and in turn, creates an often gimmicky, borderline sloppy feel to the album. The highlight of Everything Ecstatic sees Hebden revisiting the languidly calculated folktronic simplicity of Rounds with the track "And Then Patterns." As editing gimmicks take the backseat, "And Then Patterns" serves as a reminder that a quiet piano melody accompanied by a driving beat is all Hebden requires in achieving sonic nirvana. The album closes with the track "Sleep, Eat Food, Have Visions," a lackluster attempt at recreating the impressive improvisatory manipulation Hebden is so fond of at his live shows.\nOne must appreciate that Hebden's sound is evolving, and I look forward to his future releases, but oftentimes one must take a take a step back to take two steps forward. Hebden took a step back. Do yourself a favor and purchase Rounds.