Four Tet, whose real name is Kieran Hebden, has announced a new album made in collaboration with guitarist William Tyler, known for his “cosmic country” style.
The album, titled 41 Longford Street Late 80s, will be released on September 19 through Eat Your Own Ear Recordings. The first track from the album is a cover of Lyle Lovett’s song, If I Had a Boat, which is available to listen to now.
The collaboration began after the two musicians met at Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Festival in 2013. They quickly realized they shared a passion for 1980s American country and folk music. Their influences include artists like Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith. Tyler’s father was a well-known studio producer in Nashville during the 1980s, while Hebden’s father was a big fan of that era’s music. They started working on the album in March 2022 in a studio in Los Angeles.
Hebden explained their approach: “Our idea was to make music that focused on these influences and brought them to the front of our awareness. We recorded guitars in the studio, exploring styles and sounds from that time. Covering Lyle Lovett’s If I Had a Boat was the clearest example of that ‘80s country sound. After recording, I took the tracks home and worked on them on my computer.”
Hebden, who has said he often uses laptop speakers to create his music, spent two years refining their recordings. The album includes long improvised parts, patterns, and tones. He added, “On some songs, the guitars appear only as digital fragments, creating rhythmic textures. Working slowly allowed us to create a new sound based on our shared teenage experiences and the musical heritage from our fathers.”
William Tyler also spoke about the project: “We both want to reframe the music we grew up with, no matter the genre. This album reflects that. It is full of nostalgia but also looks forward. I’m not sure what genre it fits into now, but I trust Kieran and love what we’ve made. He’s become a close friend, and I’m excited to see where we go next.”
Fans can pre-order the album now.
In other news, Four Tet will perform at Glastonbury Festival in June. That same month, a 24-track remix album of The Cure’s music, called Remixes of a Lost World, will be released. It features remixes by Hebden alongside Daniel Avery, Sally C, Mogwai, and Âme.
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