Autechre - Quaristice

by Maarten Schiethart

published: 6 / 3 / 2008

Label: Warp Records
Format: CD

Inventive ninth album from Autechre, whose intelligent dance music on this record is analogically and digitally generated from almost thirty years of electronic equipment and techniques

Review

Time-consuming yet rewarding comes Autechre's new album. Intended as a FLAC download but now in the shops this week, we see justice being done. The demigods of 'intelligent dance music' have stayed on course with this, their ninth album. The origin of the album title is unclear but seems to incorporate the name of a computer wargame. With that in mind, many of 'Quaristice's tracks seem like funny little digital battles. Leaving aside a few samples, the vast majority of sounds is analogically and digitally generated from almost thirty years of electronic equipment and techniques. This suspension in Autechre's music came and comes from the interchangable use of the old and new and they have mastered that craft thoroughly. There is little experimentation this time; the tracks follow the clear path of an epic tale. The texture of the sound becomes richer whilst the storyline, melody may be too big a word, gets more, erm, elaborate. Moreover on track #18 'chenc9' it appears as if Autechre's machines have been drinking and some nice moments of disorder are achieved. The warm, glowing atmospherics take you further into the wonderland, of beats and bubbles set to music or composition. Yet, it is a sad feeling you'll get during the closing track 'Outh9X' where the little bleeps fade and disintegrate. Oddly enough at this latter stage, I was reminded of 'Eraserhead' - the film - and my initial perception of 'Quaristice' changed from landscape-ish to that of industrial architecture in decay. In truth though, Autechre have accomplished further refinements of the unlimited possibilities in music technology.

Track Listing:-

1 Altibzz
2 The Plc
3 IO
4 plyPhon
5 Perlence
6 SonDEremawe
7 Simmm
8 paralel Suns
9 Steels
10 Tankakern
11 rale
12 Fol3
13 fwzE
14 90101-5l-l
15 bnc Castl
16 Theswere
17 Wnsn
18 chenc9
19 Notwo
20 Outh9X