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Autechre, "Untilted"
Thankfully Autechre have slowed down the rate of their output to onealbum every two years, with less EP releases in between. This hashelped allow them to create albums with only minor adjustments to aformula that has made them one of the best acts making electronicmusic. Untiltedis heavy on fractured rhythms and has very little of the whirlingambient sounds that featured prominently on some of their previousreleases.
Warp
The eight tracks on work well as rhythmic studies, withrepetitive patterns shifting gradually, sometimes several times withinone track. The opener "LCC" rushes out of the gate with rapid-firebeats sputtering out of the speakers, only to switch to half-timeshortly after the three minute mark. This tactic recalls the shift fromstraight 4/4 to a pronounced shuffle feel that took place half waythrough "Cipater," the opening track on 1997's Chiastic SlideLP. While some tracks, such as "The Trees" and "Fermium" recall themore straightforward feel of their early work, others are almostarrhythmic and are similar to their recent work, sounding like theirmachines are careening out of control. "Augmatic Disport" is a case inpoint, and begins with four minutes of beats made up of successive fastrolls, which is followed by three minutes of more sparse, disjointedphrases that sound as if they are being hiccupped up by the machines.The one and a half minute section that concludes this track is one ofthe albums truly divergent passages. During this section the jarringrolls and bursts of activity fade away to reveal a straight 4/4 patternthat clearly references the techno of their past. This is the closestBooth and Brown have come to creating chilled out techno since 1994's AmberLP, and the fact they only hint at it after eight minutes of heavyrhythmic bombardment makes it all the more effective. Naturally, thefollowing "Iera" sends us swiftly back into 2005 with its stop-start,slightly off kilter kick and click patterns. The fact that more than afew of these tracks bear titles that are actually in plain English(some of them even common words) is another noticeable reference totheir past, as this practice has not been used this extensively since1995. Although Autechre tracks often create an image of a straightfaced duo, 15 minute closer "Sublimit" shows that they do possess asense of humor. After several minutes of repetitive beats, a sectionensues during which downright silly sounding horn stabs are introduced.These, plus the low, thuddy snare sound with which they are duelling,obviously reference the nascent days of hip-hop. While Booth and Brownhave been vocal about the influence of early hip-hop on their music, Ican't help thinking they're having a laugh here. Although they are nolonger breaking new ground, Untilted is still an enjoyable listen due to the sheer talent the duo possesses.
Warp
The eight tracks on work well as rhythmic studies, withrepetitive patterns shifting gradually, sometimes several times withinone track. The opener "LCC" rushes out of the gate with rapid-firebeats sputtering out of the speakers, only to switch to half-timeshortly after the three minute mark. This tactic recalls the shift fromstraight 4/4 to a pronounced shuffle feel that took place half waythrough "Cipater," the opening track on 1997's Chiastic SlideLP. While some tracks, such as "The Trees" and "Fermium" recall themore straightforward feel of their early work, others are almostarrhythmic and are similar to their recent work, sounding like theirmachines are careening out of control. "Augmatic Disport" is a case inpoint, and begins with four minutes of beats made up of successive fastrolls, which is followed by three minutes of more sparse, disjointedphrases that sound as if they are being hiccupped up by the machines.The one and a half minute section that concludes this track is one ofthe albums truly divergent passages. During this section the jarringrolls and bursts of activity fade away to reveal a straight 4/4 patternthat clearly references the techno of their past. This is the closestBooth and Brown have come to creating chilled out techno since 1994's AmberLP, and the fact they only hint at it after eight minutes of heavyrhythmic bombardment makes it all the more effective. Naturally, thefollowing "Iera" sends us swiftly back into 2005 with its stop-start,slightly off kilter kick and click patterns. The fact that more than afew of these tracks bear titles that are actually in plain English(some of them even common words) is another noticeable reference totheir past, as this practice has not been used this extensively since1995. Although Autechre tracks often create an image of a straightfaced duo, 15 minute closer "Sublimit" shows that they do possess asense of humor. After several minutes of repetitive beats, a sectionensues during which downright silly sounding horn stabs are introduced.These, plus the low, thuddy snare sound with which they are duelling,obviously reference the nascent days of hip-hop. While Booth and Brownhave been vocal about the influence of early hip-hop on their music, Ican't help thinking they're having a laugh here. Although they are nolonger breaking new ground, Untilted is still an enjoyable listen due to the sheer talent the duo possesses.samples:
