Four Tet (a.k.a. Kieran Hebden) released his first DVD a couple years ago. It was a "bonus disc" of four videos included with a CD single of remixes... one video was hilarious, one was a bore, and two were hauntingly nightmarish and disturbing. Now, the tables have been turned: The DVD is the main attraction here, while the CD is a lowly "bonus disc." A sign of the times, it seems.

This DVD seems to promise "films" of the entire Everything Ecstatic album. The tracks are in the same order as on the CD of the same name with the exception of moving "and then patterns" to the end. Why the change? Because "and then patterns" is playing during the DVD end credits sequence. I'm sorry, Kieran - that doesn't count as a "film." I mean really...

Otherwise, the actual "films"/videos/whatever are a very mixed bag. The first one, "a joy," is not - lots of jittery abstract patterns, shapes, and colors in rapid-fire sequences that bring to mind those Japanese cartoons that supposedly induce seizures. "Smile around the face" starts to grow on you as you follow a constant head-shot of the protagonist walking through the city, having a rough ride on the bus, and then playing with cute kids (earning bonus points with me for putting a smiley face sticker on the guy's forehead) ... but just when you think you've arrived at a happy ending of sorts, it's ruined by (what I'm assuming is) a watery suicide scene tacked on for no apparent reason ... bah.

Elsewhere, you'll encounter artsy camera shots strung together seemingly at random, some rather cool animated sloppy calligraphy, a drop of CGI water taking a Matrix-style journey, creepy drugged-out young hipsters who each somehow end up with an extra pair of eyes, and an incredibly strange and grotesque sequence involving a guy in a panda suit, a head on a pole, and people in insect costumes. It's a big relief when "you were there with me" finally arrives at the end - a refreshingly human and oddly touching atmospheric video love letter. (At least I think that's what it is...?)

Speaking of love, it's awfully sweet of Four Tet to throw in the Part 2 CD since you've basically bought the same Everything Ecstatic album twice here (just to get these marginal videos - there's not even a fancy 5.1 Dobly Surround audio mix on the DVD or anything...)