Four Tet v Pole - EP

A very odd meeting of the minds, this four-track EP finds Pole and Four Tet offering one original each and a remix of the other's track. While it would seem difficult to find common ground between Pole's low-key, crackly take on dub and Four Tet's song-driven compositions that incorporate live instrumentation, the parties make it work by using each other's sources sparingly. Hence, it's difficult to tell exactly what remains of Pole's "Heim" on Four Tet's remix, but no matter: the track is absolutely gorgeous. Driven by precise and forceful drum programming, the track is woven with hits of static (likely a sample from the Pole original) and a deeply affecting piano sample that's difficult to source. Four Tet's original is a catchy pop instrumental with hints of dub. Pole's remix of Four Tet's "Cload" is similarly irreverent (and happens to be the weakest track here), using small sections of the tune's dronier bits and applying his standard processing. Pole redeems himself a bit with the fine "Heim," which is melodic, bass-driven glitch dub in the vein of his album 3.