Incunabula - Autechre

Warp cd17-Incunabula
further artist information is available on the extensive label site www.warprecords.com as well as samples from this album so if you cant make a decision on purchase from this review, you can take time out to listen to a few tracks and at least get a taster of the sound.
Autechre (aweteker) are- Sean Booth and Rob Brown, two Manchester lads who through a dislike of mainstream pop culture, decided rather than being ...
...create their own. This was done under the name Autechre, as well as Gescom. Gescom being the more hip hop beat based electro side to the pair of musicians.

This album takes you on a journey from start to finish and in my opinion is only fully appreciated when listened to in its entirety.
The sleeve art is gorgeous, making heavy use of metallic inks and designed by The Designers republic, also responsible for the Wipeout Playstation ... more

Warp cd17-Incunabula
further artist information is available on the extensive label site www.warprecords.com as well as samples from this album so if you cant make a decision on purchase from this review, you can take time out to listen to a few tracks and at least get a taster of the sound.
Autechre (aweteker) are- Sean Booth and Rob Brown, two Manchester lads who through a dislike of mainstream pop culture, decided rather than being forced into listening to music they didnt enjoy, they would create their own. This was done under the name Autechre, as well as Gescom. Gescom being the more hip hop beat based electro side to the pair of musicians.

This album takes you on a journey from start to finish and in my opinion is only fully appreciated when listened to in its entirety.
The sleeve art is gorgeous, making heavy use of metallic inks and designed by The Designers republic, also responsible for the Wipeout Playstation game covers and team logo design. Eleven tracks of pure synth based electronica.

Track one: Kalpol intro- 3:18

Used as a track in the film 'Pi' by Darren Aronofsky, this is the perfect opening tune, begins with droning synth, introducing electronic background melodies before progressing into a minimal snare based 'beat'
This track doesnt really progress into a melody as such but rather serves as a great introduction to what is about to come.

Track two: Bike- 8:00

Probably my favourite track on the album, this is a very relaxing slice of electro, a nice beat with great stereo effects and instruments passing from ear to ear creating a very warm feeling. Has to be heard!

Track three: Aut riche- 6:55

Very slow droning tune, soft computer altered voices whisper and give unknown announcements in the background as the cymbal taps are introduced, slowly gaining volume before progressing into a slow bassy beat with synthesiser melody then becoming apparent. A very nice track.

Track Four: Bronchus 2- 3:33

A rather harsh track when compared to the previous, straight away a heavy yet faded beat is audible, gaining in volume with what sounds like computers answer to animal groaning in the background, not the best track on the album but definitely not a poor one.

Track five: Basscadet- 5:23

The only track from the album to get its own release, this is perhaps the most accessible one of the lot. A nice beat, quiet glitchy taps behind the main melody, and the introduction of a spoken voice that sounds rather like a slightly distorted radio interview quote. This song explores many melodies in its duration and is well worth a listen, the e.p of this track is also a highly recommended purchase.

Track six: Eggshell- 9:02

Glitchy background clicks with bassy synth sounds make for a track which gets me dreaming of flying over low mountains, and then progressing into the clouds, a beautiful melody and a very memorable one for me.

Track seven: Doctrine- 7:48

Not getting off to a particularly great start compared to the rest of the album, this track actually proves to progress into one of the best. bassy synth buzzes occasionally interrupt a beautiful string like melody. The beat is there but without being too heavy, Is also the perfect length.

Track eight: Maetl- 6:32

Containing the heaviest bassiest beat so far on the album this is soon overtaken by a vast array of synths and melodies filling your headphones with beautiful sounds and stereo panning effects (this album by the way, should DEFINITELY be listened to through headphones)

Track nine: Windwind- 11:17

The longest running track on the cd, this one takes the longest to build up, but it is worth the wait (not an unpleasurable wait) tinny sounding drums and high pitched synthesisers perfectly accompany the chosen landscapes of sound created here. Another beautiful tune.

Track ten: Lowride- 7:16

This track begins sounding rather like a mainstream tune, with fairly light but deep bass echoing over a light clapping sound before a really lovely sounding synth melody being introduced, and then (shock horror) a piano. all very nice, until a rather cold soundign synth is introduced over the top which for me ruins the track slightly as it doesnt quite seem to fit. For me the low point of the album, but definitely not offputting to the rest of the album.

Track Eleven: 444- 8:55

The last track (awwwwwww) begins very slowly with quiet melodies remeniscent of Boards of canada. Then introducing a fairly fast beat with many different styles of drum and snare here, though so well layered, none stand out too much against the others.
A ery nice finish to an amazing and in parts, beautiful album.

I cannot recommend this enough, and if on hearing the samples of this album, you think it sounds too outdated, listen again, I bought this and hated it, now it has become one of my favourie cd's. Its great for working to, as a graphic designer this proves a massive creative help to me. It gets you thinking!

Highly recommended to everyone!

 

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