Challenging, abrasive, genius: Autechre, along with Aphex Twin can be seen as stalwarts of the IDM genre, though loath they would be to tie themselves to one type of music. From humble beginnings in Rochdale, England they have released a string of highly regarded albums on Warp Records, securing a place as one of the label's most high profile acts. Every new Autechre album is a major event in the electronic music world, and Rob Brown and Sean Booth justify the hype surrounding their records by constantly pushing the envelope of contemporary electronica.
Tracks on "Oversteps"
This Album is featured in Update #044:
Essential 2010 Albums Now On Sale
We wish you an amazing 2011! To start the celebrations we have compiled 200 of our favourite albums of 2010 for our biggest ever New Year Sale!
From today on until January 16 all selected albums will be available for a special price - including many of the more...
This Album is featured in Feature #098:
Our Favourite Albums Of 2010 For A Special Price
It's time to celebrate the hot summer season with a big Summer Sale! Quench your thirst for awesome music with 100+ essential albums from 2010, available now for a special price until the end of August.
From Actress to Rudy Zygadlo, from Ellen Allien to more...
This Album is featured in Update #015:
Flying Lotus, Gonjasufi, Africa Hitech
Twenty years and counting - Warp Records' influence on the era of electronic music has been tremendous, and with recent releases by Flying Lotus, Gonjasufi, Autechre and LoneLady it's heartening to see that the legendary label hasn't lost a bit of its more...
Top 1 in Best Rated Releases of Week #14
Top 2 in Download Charts of Week #13
This Album is featured in Update #010:
Autechre, Scuba, Cobblestone Jazz
There is only one word we can find for March 2010 and that is: massive. We're hard pressed to recall another month with such a staggering amount of great releases, resulting in what is surely our most comprehensive newsletter to date. The tip of the iceberg is more...
Top 1 in Best Rated Releases of Week #12
Top 3 in Download Charts of Week #12
os veix3
(Track 08 on this Album)
known(1)
(Track 03 on this Album)
Autechre open a new chapter in their 17-year long history. 'Oversteps', their first album since 2008's 'Quaristice', harks back to the melodic days of their early classics just as much as it puts new musical concepts up for discussion. Yes, discussion, as like every Autechre album before, it begs to be analysed and contextualised as much as it deserves being listened to.
The first associations that come to mind when listening to Rob Brown and Sean Booth's latest endeavour are indeed Autechre's early masterpieces, such as their 1993 debut 'Incunabula' and the magnificent 'Tri Repetae'.
These early efforts have pioneered the combination of long melodic flows and rhythmic fidgetry as a concept, something that has later given way to their increasingly abstract rhythmic dissections, starting with 2001's 'Confield' album.
'Oversteps' once again tips the scales. In terms of melodic content, the album is surely the boldest expression of Autechre's constant will to redefine themselves with every new album. Tracks like 'known(1)' or 'O=0' utilise tonal scales that bring oriental, medieval or baroque music to mind, referencing acoustic instruments while greatly expanding on their natural range of expression.
At the same time, Brown and Booth bring back the slow, bit-crushed beats that so perfectly fit their melodic innovations. Tracks like 'Treale' and 'ilanders' are pure, classic Autechre, while still sounding quite like nothing else out there. This in itself might be Autechre's greatest achievement on what is yet another landmark album in their impressive career.
The first associations that come to mind when listening to Rob Brown and Sean Booth's latest endeavour are indeed Autechre's early masterpieces, such as their 1993 debut 'Incunabula' and the magnificent 'Tri Repetae'.
These early efforts have pioneered the combination of long melodic flows and rhythmic fidgetry as a concept, something that has later given way to their increasingly abstract rhythmic dissections, starting with 2001's 'Confield' album.
'Oversteps' once again tips the scales. In terms of melodic content, the album is surely the boldest expression of Autechre's constant will to redefine themselves with every new album. Tracks like 'known(1)' or 'O=0' utilise tonal scales that bring oriental, medieval or baroque music to mind, referencing acoustic instruments while greatly expanding on their natural range of expression.
At the same time, Brown and Booth bring back the slow, bit-crushed beats that so perfectly fit their melodic innovations. Tracks like 'Treale' and 'ilanders' are pure, classic Autechre, while still sounding quite like nothing else out there. This in itself might be Autechre's greatest achievement on what is yet another landmark album in their impressive career.
ilanders
(Track 02 on this Album)
Selected as release of the week