9. Four Tet - Hands
All artists reach a zenith in their career, a high point of excellence that they will never top. For Kieran Hebden, this came with the release of the quite brilliant Rounds. His third full length album fused together the live [bad word] and vibrant melodies of folk with the experimentalism and production quality of electronica, and [bad word] these elements with devastating beauty. While maybe not the most immediate or obvious choice from Rounds, “Hands” delivers its message with stunning simplicity. Beautiful, chiming ambiance is joined by some improvisational [bad word] beats and steady rhythms as the whole tracks envelops the listener in a blanket of warm melodies. It is the sort of track that, no matter how we ’re feeling, makes us feel safe inside and at peace. (James Ould)