Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, announces new album with “cosmic country” guitarist William Tyler

Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, has announced a new collaborative album with “cosmic country guitarist” William Tyler. 

’41 Longford Street Late 80s’ will arrive through Eat Your Own Ear Recordings on 19th September. You can check the first song from the record below — a cover of Lyle Lovett’s ‘If I Had a Boat’. 

The record has its roots in Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Festival, where the artists met in 2013. The pair soon discovered a shared love for 1980s American country and folk music, including artists like Lovett and Nanci Griffith. Tyler’s father having been a prominent studio producer in Nashville during that era, while Hebden’s dad was a big fan. Work on ’41 Longford Street Late 80s’ began in March 2022, in a Los Angeles studio.  

“Our idea for the album was to make music that focused on that influence and brought it to the front of our awareness,” said Hebden. “We’d record the guitars in the studio, exploring styles and sounds from that music. A cover of the Lyle Lovett song, ‘If I Had a Boat’ was the most literal pull from this ‘80s country sound. then I’d take it all home to my computer and bring it into my other world.” 

Hebden, who has previously revealed he makes most of his music using laptop speakers, spent two years working on their studio recordings, which included extended improvised elements, patterns and tones. “On some tracks, all that’s left of the guitars are digital fragments of sound making rhythmic textures,” he explained. “Taking it slowly allowed us to create a new sound out of this shared teenage experience and gift from our fathers.”

“I think we both in our own specific ways want to re-contextualise a lot of music that we grew up with, regardless of the genre, and I think that’s what this album reflects,’ added Tyler. “It’s a lot of nostalgia but it’s also very forward focused. I don’t even know what genre I’m supposed to be in at this point, but I trust Kieran and I love what we’ve done together. He’s become a dear friend and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead for us.”

You can pre-order the album here. 

In June, Four Tet will appear at Glastonbury Festival. The same month will also see a 24 track remix package of The Cure arrive. ‘Remixes of a Lost World‘ features interpretations by Hebden alongside Daniel Avery, Sally C, Mogwai and Âme.