Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid - NYC

Already? The fourth collaboration between these two in just three years? If previous efforts seemed to be a case of Hebden subsuming his own instincts so as to appear in thrall to the genius that is Drummer Reid, here we are reminded that Four Tet still exists, and the whole world is still a musical instrument. According to the protagonists, this is an ode to a city where Reid was raised, and Hebden has visited in sporadic bursts. Reid, typically understated and relaxed in his surroundings with Hebden, as frenetic tourist, trying to cram as much in as possible. Opener Lyman Place is a case in point: a sample and distort laden gorefest, with Reid intuitively building the atmosphere as the mayhem ascends. Alas, despite the disparate approaches (including guitar samples) employed by Hebden are interesting as ever, the experience never quite manages to grip the soul. One for the sightseers. [Paul Mitchell]