Play With The Changes

When you look back retrospectively at 4hero's lengthy career over the early nineties to present, what strikes first is that it can be described as two distinct movements. First, from their proto-rave days ("Mr Kirk's Nightmare", anyone ?) to drum'n bass innovators status (1995's classic "Parallel Universe" LP), when Dego Mc Farlane and Marc Mac fuelled all their respective talents in one full sonic assault altogether.
Afterwards (and that is from 1998's "Two Pages" and since), their music clearly showcased their duality: if Dego's contributions went ever further into beats'n bleep trickery (which also meant being at the source of the "Broken Beat" sound, i.e. pals New Sector Movements and Bugz In The Attic), Marc Mac focused on a much more soulful and acoustic approach, all string-soaked and heavenly vocals. Therefore, and several years ahead of Outkast, 4hero became the first act since The Beatles ("White Album" period onwards) to showcase so fearlessly their artistic schizophrenia, culminating in their last proper LP, 2001's "Creating Patterns", where you could tell within a few bars which of the two guys had produced what track. If on "Two Pages", this diversity was segregated to two different discs, "Creating Patterns" was a mish-mash of both, radically changing styles from one track to another (which made its full-length listening somewhat frustrating, as you would sometimes wish for more of one genre instead of being busted from one to another all the way through).

So here's "Play With The Changes", their first new material collection for almost 6 years, and it's obvious the duet have melted each of their own obsessions into one and only sonic craft; if brilliant new single "Morning Child" and (probably next) "Bed Of Roses" are pure Marc Mac's efforts, all blazing musicianship and dreamy female croonings, Dego's tracks sound a lot sweeter than on the two previous records, as if they had a strong will to make a rather more cohesive record than its two predecessors. Therefore, the smooth transition between Dego's beat-driven "Sink Or Swim" and following track, Marc's gorgeous "Give In", would have been impossible on previous offerings. Overall, if it's clear here that the latter's approach won over the more upfront skills of the former, every song (even a chilling cover of Stevie Wonder, "Superwoman", almost identical to the original) from start to finish is underpinned by a delicate groove that could be no other than Dego's affair.

"Play With The Changes" is then not only another triumph of style and fire for their authors (who have already been through all of that), it is also a personal victory which makes itself the first 4hero piece of music that's an aural delight from an end to the other (and yes, I mean even the weird John Mc Laughlin-esque final "Dedication To The Horse"), a bit as if each partner lived the other's work as an inspiration and an emulation all the same.

This is their best work yet, don't miss it.

(Please note I purposely reviewed the 15-track version, being aimed to become soon the standard, as I notice the 'limited edition' has a bonus track, "Our Own Place", which I haven't heard yet).

Peace.

UPDATE October 3rd, 2011: I want to thank very gratefully the 38 people out of 40 (so far) who liked this review... and mentioned it ! 4hero 4ever, mates !

Being a total 4hero fan and followed every album (incl. remixes, jacobs optical) - Play really is the absolute definitive album - it all makes senses, the sounds are lush, the production tighter than anything before - previous albums have been experimental, this one really is the best - i've read conflicting reviews, critisiing that the production is maybe too good?? how is that possible? they helped shaped drum and bass, and well once you've conquered that space- why not conquer all the influences - this album is injected with drum and bass, soul, funk and jazz with modern day lyrics that will blow your mind the moment you listen to it- it just will refuse to leave your cd player...... truly brilliant.

I have to agree with dbouqet below - this album has a couple of weak parts but when it's good it's oh-so-good. Tracks like 'Look Inside', 'Something In The Way' and the Ursula Rucker-featuring 'The Awakening' would be the best track on most other albums, but the title track here is mindblowing; the direction change is stunning and the last three minutes are something else. Discover for yourself. I think 4Hero have found their sound.