Anyone remotely passionate about electronic music knows any Autechre release could showcase a brave new world, a new direction in warped electronics and microscopic sound landscapes. I was not moved by the abstractions of Quaristice, having mixed emotions on the much hyped new album Oversteps, could it be another collage of textures that needs time to absorb intricacies, time that I don’ seem to have, and maybe that’s why the 2008 just did not gel. Any Autechre release is about time, and its someway way in the future, and where Quaristice was probably too far out for me to touch, Oversteps seems from another world, yet it shows more of a homage to the past, still rhythmically strong, yet retrospective in its melodies, textures and electronic gadgetry.
“r ess†eases you into the soup of synthesizers and electronics, a long fade, ambience harking back to Incunabula days, its hard to believe that album is 17 years old, skittering beats and bass pulse give a fresh edge. “ilanders†lays on the crunch, while “known (1)†brings visions of the magic Coil. “qplay†sounds like Autechre jamming with Aphex Twin, abrasive yet rhythmic metal beats punctuate a soft melody. “Treale†heads for their hip hop roots, head nodding beat, a bunch of simplistic synthesizer riffs, and what is reminiscent of David Sylvian’ more abstract electronic collaborations. “os veix3†and “Yuop†sum up why I love this record, the space that evokes every sound just evoke an otherworldly feel. “krYlon†for some reason makes me think of the Bruce Gilbert project He Said, I’m not sure why, but some of the tracks just make me remember that era of British electronic exploration, and the interspersed ambient tracks certainly reinforce that feeling, weaving what is a modern psychedelic masterpiece, where the psychedelia bores into your brain via vintage synthesizers and other worldly electronics.
As with anything from Japan, you always get more, the Japanese release contains “Xektses sql†as a bonus, three minutes of fading sound art. The artwork is as usual of the highest calibre, Warp realising the market for desirable multi-platter vinyl box sets, and a high quality wav file download of the whole album.
Play it loud, and feel the psychedelic soup slosh around in your brain.
Wayne Stronell
