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 the increasingly abstract rhythmic dissection of electronic music 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.