Rounds - Four Tet
Metascore
89 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 26 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
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  1. Playlouder
    90
    A beautiful, engaging, enchanting record.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    90
    Soul music full of remarkable sonic ideas.
  3. Dot Music
    90
    Squeaky genius.
  4. Pitchfork
    82
    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.
  5. Almost Cool
    83
    If you've liked any of his previous work, you won't go wrong here.
  6. Stylus Magazine
    98
    You may not get to sing along, but this is not ambient music; it is immersive and involving.
  7. The Guardian
    100
    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.
  8. ShakingThrough.net
    86
    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.
  9. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    91
    Charming, civilized, childish, Kieran Hebden imagines an aural space in which electronic malfunction is cute rather than annoying or ominous.
  10. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    Rounds is a perfect mix of subdued chill-out music and up-tempo beats.
  11. Junkmedia
    90
    An album that's both effortlessly confident of its sound and monumentally fearless of introducing cohesive surprises.
  12. Dusted Magazine
    90
    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.
  13. Splendid
    90
    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.
  14. Uncut
    100
    It's the freshest, most exciting and far-reaching left-field album in years. [Jun 2003, p.102]
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  15. Spin
    91
    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]
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User Reviews

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User Score
9.0 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. GerardJ
    10
    Beautiful. Do I need to say more?
  2. LawrenceP
    10
    Yes it is "as serious as your life". A must have in your collection.
  3. Roaf
    10
    Absolutely stunning! Though takes a number of listens to get your head around.
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