All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

The Guardian

A trove of bewitching melody and subtle invention, Rounds succeeds not only as a meticulously conceived piece of art but also as a moving expression of human warmth.

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100

Uncut

It's the freshest, most exciting and far-reaching left-field album in years. [Jun 2003, p.102]

Stylus Magazine

You may not get to sing along, but this is not ambient music; it is immersive and involving.

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Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

Charming, civilized, childish, Kieran Hebden imagines an aural space in which electronic malfunction is cute rather than annoying or ominous.

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Spin

Rounds is a more varied trip, with a darker vibe suggesting the influence of Hebden's labelmate Dan Snaith of Manitoba. [Aug 2003, p.118]

Playlouder

A beautiful, engaging, enchanting record.

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Delusions of Adequacy

Rounds is a perfect mix of subdued chill-out music and up-tempo beats.

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New Musical Express

Soul music full of remarkable sonic ideas.

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Splendid

Rounds contains a new underlying sonic scrape that is brisk and windy and distinctly more dynamic than Hebden's previous, more placid outings, but the signature dense soul of his work is the same.

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Junkmedia

An album that's both effortlessly confident of its sound and monumentally fearless of introducing cohesive surprises.

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Dusted Magazine

Now, rather than trying to replay his roots and influences, he’s incorporating them as threads in the in the tapestry of his own rich, distinctly beautiful sound.

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Dot Music

Squeaky genius.

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ShakingThrough.net

Rather than lose control of his programmed loops, Hebden sounds completely in control, the conductor of an invisible digital orchestra, changing gears on a whim.

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Almost Cool

If you've liked any of his previous work, you won't go wrong here.

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Pitchfork

What gives this record its internal order, and makes it stand out over previous laptop explorations of immense record collections, is the simplicity of the other genres that he dabbles and draws upon to flesh out the beat.

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Alternative Press

Consists entirely of samples yet sounds as organic as a 1960 Impulse! LP, largely because Hebden broadens his instrumental palette, fattens his beats and even gets cinematic. [June 2003, p.109]

Under The Radar

One of the essential electronic platters of the year. [#5, p.106]

Blender

Hebden treats software as a rocky road to hummable compositions of seductively intricate invention. [#17, p.135]

Village Voice

Sensitive ones will fall in love instantly; Fat Beats futurists might wait for the Jay Dee remix due later this year.

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Magnet

With Rounds, Hebden has found the secret meeting place for man and machine; he uses his cunning to exploit it and all of its startling possibilities. [#59, p.94]

The Wire

As Four Tet, Hebden has devised a musical identity that is distinctly different from his work with Fridge, but both projects share a passion for defying boundaries. [#231, p.60]

All Music Guide

The record offers something to nearly every audience that could approach it, with a bit of a groove for electronic fans, an obtuse sense of music-making for experimentalists, and a dreamy melodicism sure to endear it to indie-pop fans.

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Q Magazine

This is maverick electronica without the headaches. [Jul 2003, p.103]

PopMatters

Although Rounds isn't quite the jaw-dropping masterpiece that Manitoba's Up in Flames is, and despite the fact that the album lags on the meandering "And They All Look Broken Hearted", it's still a remarkable record, one that, like the work of Dan Snaith, gives a usually stale musical genre a undeniably human feel.

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Urb

Simultaneously builds and deconstructs the strides made with Pause, resulting in an even more organic blend of quiet but muscular compositions. [Jun 2003, p.93]

Rolling Stone

Rounds is almost accidentally poignant--it's like hearing shattered transmissions of sentimental old music. [15 May 2003, p.134]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.9 (out of 10) based on 26 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Gerard J gave it a10:
Beautiful. Do I need to say more?

Roaf gave it a10:
Absolutely stunning! Though takes a number of listens to get your head around.

KC H gave it a10:
Groundbreaking, amazing, beautiful electronic music. But its much more than mere electronic music, its music to live life to.

Kid A gave it a9:
Absolutely gorgeous

Byron D gave it a10:
Smoke out or trip to this album NOW. You will thank me.

Lawrence P gave it a10:
Yes it is "as serious as your life". A must have in your collection.

Bryan C gave it a 5:
Easy-listening laptop electronica. And rather disappointing in the context of the gushing reviews contained here. I'm a big fan of electronic music, IDM or whatever you call it and there are some good moments here but its not groundbreaking or challenging - merely nice. Maybe it sounds better in a car? Coming to a TV near you...

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