Autechre
EP7

Despite their fearsome reputation in some quarters, no one has ever, at least not on any reasonable grounds, been able to classify Autechre as "unlistenable". However, their latest offering of 11 tracks curiously masquerading as an EP has alienated even some of the most committed AE trainspotters. Whilst some consider last year's LP5 a career high point, those who found it just too bizarre are in for more annoyance with EP7, as this release charts even more difficult territory. It is, however, a fascinating and at times breathtaking collection of music.

Whilst LP5 seemed at times indebted to drum 'n' bass, EP7 returns to the rhythmic structures of hip-hop and electro, a wide-bottomed groove lumbering through almost the whole of the record. This is probably its easiest point of access, and is often the only anchor in a disorientating sea of audio trickery. Of course only repeated listening and close attention will ever do justice to EP7, but there are a few initially obvious highlights. These include the mangled, wordless rap vocal of Ccec, the unexpectedly broad sonic palette and well-buried but addictive melody of Maphive 6.1 and the mashed-up suspense soundtrack complete with ratchet-tool percussion that is Netlon Sentinel.

Despite such moments that can make you sit up and listen, those of a more fragile constitution may ultimately feel defeated by the musical scratchpad that makes up the majority of this release. This is Autechre throwing around ideas, kindly exposing a little of the process this time, and it can be less than pretty. The half-formed nature of some these experiments probably explains why the duo were unwilling to label EP7 as the next album, and they were right not to, because given the standard of their back catalogue, this would have been disappointing.

It would probably be unwise to recommend EP7 as anyone's first taste of Autechre, but those with any further interest in what direction the gloriously malfunctioning minds of Sean Booth and Rob Brown might be taking next should probably own this record.

Reviewed by Robin Howells
03.05.01

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autechre

Warp
1999


Racializing Crime:
Racism, White Liberals, and the Limits of Tolerance

Shame of the Cities
Gentrification in the New Urban America

Faster, Poetry, Slam! Slam!
Scenes from the National Poetry Slam in Austin, TX

I Love to Burn the Flag
"Sometimes the stars would ignite, sometimes the stripes. Sometimes, the whole thing would go up in a blaze of Old Glory..."

Black on White:
Black Writers on What It Means to Be White
Edited by David Roediger

PR Watch:
Edited by John Stauber and Sheldon Rampton


Fabrication Defect:
Tom Zé, Brazil's Cultural Cannibal, Poops a Pearl

Smoke Signals:
A History of Native Americans in Cinema