Pause
by Four Tet
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Oct 2, 2001
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17

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  1. Eragon20
    Jun 3, 2019
    10
    Pause remains the most organic and grounded Four Tet album; listening is almost a spiritual experience.
  2. jasonh
    Jul 7, 2005
    10
    A one-man mission to bring folk music kicking and screaming into the 21st century...slips effortlessly between genres, adding hip-hop and R'n'B to an already potent mix of influence... has the ability to create exquisite soundscapes that are also moving expressions of human emotion.
  3. MikeR
    Mar 3, 2003
    9
    This is one of the most COMPLETE albums I've heard in a while. Both moody and upbeat at times, this album does a wonderful job of spanning the emotional spectrum. It's a very reflective collection of tunes and is very, very easy to listen from beginning to end.
  4. GordonK
    Apr 28, 2003
    9
    A must have Album for all Electronica lovers. Less jazzy and more eclectic than his previous releases but with the same stunning production. Clearly influenced by the likes of Eno, Reich & Susumo Yokota as well as Big Beat, Jazz and Psychedelia, the album remains amazingly seemless and complete. Catch him live if you can.
  5. JonFriskC
    Aug 28, 2006
    10
    Fantastic
  6. clem666
    Dec 28, 2021
    9
    'Pause' is as touching as organic tissue : it is alive and directly attempts to communicate with us. Tracks go on and on following each other with a surprising consistence despite Four Tet's eclectic and genre-blending approach. Twenty years separate them but still we can easily recognize Four Tet's efforts on recent Madlib's 'Sound Acestors', especially on tracks 'Theme de Crabtree','Pause' is as touching as organic tissue : it is alive and directly attempts to communicate with us. Tracks go on and on following each other with a surprising consistence despite Four Tet's eclectic and genre-blending approach. Twenty years separate them but still we can easily recognize Four Tet's efforts on recent Madlib's 'Sound Acestors', especially on tracks 'Theme de Crabtree', 'Hopprock', 'Riddim Chant', 'Latino Negro', 'The New Normal' or even 'Chino' (well almost all of this record).

    I take it as a sign for this artist to have crafted what could easily be considered as his best material. It is pure, it is breathtaking, it feels new every time you listen to it, it is both almost religious and highly rhythmic (almost clannish and ritualistic), it is distorted while being deeply rooted in the present, and it is of one the most insolent beauty. 'Untangled' and 'Tangle' amongst others reminded me of C418's 'Minecraft - Volume Alpha'. 'No More Mosquitoes' made me remember 'Duumbiyay' from Madlib. Well I guess that this is it : 'Pause' will certainly make you travel through passed and not yet produced memories.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best Album of 2001
98
#98 Most Discussed Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Almost Cool
    80
    You could take this release and pair it up with Boards Of Canada's In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country for a back-to-back hit of sunny, frolic-in-a-sunny-field goodness.
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  2. Sonicnet
    80
    Without resorting to sappy new age or yuppie lounge cliches, Hebden has created a blissed-out ambient album for the post-rave generation.
    Read full review
  3. Splendid
    70
    It's a good-natured and engaging mix of subtle sample manipulation, music concrete, downtempo dance beats and pop experiments.
    Read full review
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