Search - Autechre :: Confield

Everything and nothing

Frank D. Moore | Houston, TX, USA | 08/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me begin with a few facts about myself, which seem necessary to put this review in context. 1) I had never known of any ties to Radiohead, before researching this artist and album. Regardless, I could care less about Radiohead, own none of their material, never read an interview, etc. 2) The single Autechre album in my collection prior to this purchase was Tri Repeate. 3) Music is a passion in my life, I make my own, and in my formative years (late 80s) worked in a record store prior to and through college. As a result, I have been exposed to all types of music, and love pretty much the "best" of anything except contemporary R&B and contemporary country. My collection includes an ample amount of Blue Note jazz, trip hop, electronica, trance, etc., alternative rock (does this still exist?), hip hop, metal, etc.



Admitedly, after reading many reviews of this album, I was aprehensive, yet undeniably curious.



First and foremost, I must disagree with many reviewers that characterize this release as "noise," even in the most positive sense of the word. Confield does possess melody, rhythm, harmony, all the supposed fundamentals of what defines music. They have simply been redefined in such simultaneously subtle, brutal and beautiful ways, that they may not be instantly recognizable to the "typical" ear.



This being said, I have only listened to the album three times, since my purchase several days ago. It is far from a "recreational" listen. Like LSD is far from simply a recreational drug, for most. Yet although there is so much going on, I find it somehow serene. Unlike some idm/drill-and-bass/whatever artists, this is never intended to shock or offend. Sonically aggressive, it is still somehow comforting.



Many have described this album as an organic, living soundscape. I agree. I also feel that it taps into some primal forces that are at the origins of all that we call music. It is an experience. Sound sculpture, if you will. Audatory art. Beautiful, through-provoking, undeniable. A journey that places one on many paths, where one simultaniously traverses both forks in the road, through and infinite number of permutations.



It is an egg which embraces me in its life-giving fluid.



I am certain that someone, somewhere, someday will surpass this. In fact, it may have already happened. But I'm not sure how that would be possible."

Perfection.

Joel Dahmen | Melbourne, Australia | 01/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think this is the zenith of Autechre's output. It is like a soundtrack to a futuristic ice planet. Actually, the movie "Screamers" comes to mind. Anyway, of all their albums, this one takes me to worlds I could never physically explore. There are more ideas in it than anything around, maybe even more than a Meshuggah album, and that's a lot!"