Parallel

That Four Tet elected to open his 2020 album with a glowing, radiant synth and drone work out nearly half an hour long demonstrates the boldness and willingness to follow his own path that has characterised his work. Parallel is a series of genre-hybrid tracks, cross-pollinated from techno, UK Garage, dubstep and folk, and with some lovely moments of new age and ambient gentleness, all shimmering with that trademark misty Four Tet radiance. There’s a neatness, a sleekness even, to some of the club tracks here that hasn’t always been present in Four Tet’s productions, although there are plenty of moments of trademark sonic haziness and audio-blurriness too. Accomplished, emotive, interesting, engaging electronica from one of Britain’s most continually inventive producers.