On October 13, 1995, a relatively obscure techno act by the name of Autechre appeared on John Peel's famous radio show. And why are we finally seeing the release of the resultant Peel Session in 1999? It seems the British ... more »duo's stateside fan base has been growing at a meteoric pace since indie labels Matador and Nothing snared the American distribution rights from their native label Warp. This three-song gem exhibits the experimental, electro-informed sound Autechre helped to define. Their style is a balance of opposites: pretty melodies dance atop crunching rhythms; warm, organic sounds spar with tinny, machinelike noises. Call it ambient electro, call it minimal techno, but one thing's for sure: it's singularly Autechre. --Courtney Reimer« less
On October 13, 1995, a relatively obscure techno act by the name of Autechre appeared on John Peel's famous radio show. And why are we finally seeing the release of the resultant Peel Session in 1999? It seems the British duo's stateside fan base has been growing at a meteoric pace since indie labels Matador and Nothing snared the American distribution rights from their native label Warp. This three-song gem exhibits the experimental, electro-informed sound Autechre helped to define. Their style is a balance of opposites: pretty melodies dance atop crunching rhythms; warm, organic sounds spar with tinny, machinelike noises. Call it ambient electro, call it minimal techno, but one thing's for sure: it's singularly Autechre. --Courtney Reimer
"people seem to be agreeing here that this is nonessential, not one of their best. I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool authechre fan - most of their stuff seems to me to almost get somewhere interesting, but not quite. Felt that way about Amber, Tri Repetae++. Chiastic Slide's a little better, EP7 I'm not sure is worth the effort. but on this one, to me, they nail something they don't quite get right on other releases. it's complicated, it's crunchy, the sounds are appealingly analogy and trippy; they set up differing overlayered tracks that sometimes compete and sometimes harmonize in a way hooks my head while making my butt move in the car while I'm driving. The psychedelic and slowly building last track totally sweeps me up and spits me out. maybe autechre sometimes seems too complicated to me, as in unfocused, unlike Pan Sonic for example, but on this one for some reason the focus seems momentarily perfectly sharp."
Not essential, but still great Autechre
Impreza22B | US | 10/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first Peel Session album made by Autechre isn't anything that is absolutely essential by Autechre fans, but it's something interesting from the days of Tri Repetae++. This album is only 3 tracks long, but is still over 25 minutes long. "Milk DX" starts it off in a rather confusing manner. This song is more reminiscent of Amber, which was an excellent album, but was rather inconsistent. Things pick up with "Inhake 2," which is actually one of my favorite songs from Autechre, which has direct similarities to Tri Repetae. It is a simple beat that slowely progresses into an orchestra of mechanic sounds that transformes itself from being souless to emotive and beautiful. I would buy this album for this song alone. "Drane" ends the album with a sense of ambience, which can be found on the Garbage and Anvil Vapre, which can also be found on the 2nd disk of the American version of Tri Repetae++. Overall Peel Session is a quick fix of Autechre goodness. It isn't essential in that the same sounds can be found on Amber and Tri Repetae++, but the songs here are definately worth your time.
Overall- 8/10"
A nice simple sampler EP by Autechre
Rykre | Carson City, Nevada | 08/03/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is just one of the few shorter EP's or similar to CD singles that Autechre has put out over the years. I don't know why they do this but it does feed our quest for more Autechre until they put together a complete album. Are you addicted to Autechre yet? Many of us are. I think there should be a club. Here's a list of the releases so to make sure that you have all that is available:
Now that you have all those, you will probably want to start collecting their various EP's, which are:
Cavity Job (1991), Basscadet (1994), Anti- (1994), We R Are Why/ Are Y Are We? (1995), Garbage (1995), Anvil Vapre (1995), Envane (1997), Cichlisuite (1997), Peel Session 1 (1999), Splitrmx12 (1999), Peel Session 2 (2001), and Gantz Graf (2002).
There may be a few others, but they have become very rare. Very hard to find. I've discovered more tracks by Autechre and various other "remixed by Autechre" releases all over the IDM sound genre. Plus, some artists like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Boards of Canada and the such have released similar recording as that of Autechre, but Autechre will always be the leader of this sound.
And here's another little secret for you. Autechre has released recordings under another pseudonym, Gescom. There is nothing on CD available from Gescom, but that doesn't mean you can't find these recordings through various person to person music swap sites.
Look for these Gescom albums (I think they are only available on vinyl, and maybe only in the UK and Europe):
EP1 (1994), EP2 (1995), Motor (1994), The Sounds of Machines our Parents Used (1995), Keynell (1996), MiniDisc (1998), This (1998), That (1998), and Iss:sa (1999)
There are various takes and re-developed versions of Keynell. Just knowing that Gescom is so scarce, especially in America, it only makes it all the more totally cool to be Proudly Unhipp, and to actually have these recordings.
I find a sense of comfort in the lunacy that is Autechre's music. I have to listen to Autechre every day. It's gotten harder to listen to regular music any more and it is certainly difficult to revert back to regular music immediately after switching off Autechre. Autechre is like a drug, a stimulant, a natural high. It's a sound that inspires motivation in what ever you are doing. And yes, I can get mildly depressed if I don't have some Autechre at my immediate avail. If I've got a lot of work to do, then I know I'll get it done (and fast), if I've got Autechre playing in my background.
So, you other Autechre addicts out there, please share your story. Let us all know what Autechre has done for you, too. Has Autechre changed your life, in a positive or negative way? We need to let other people know how Autechre has an indirectly strange way of promoting better psychological health and a more positive vision about life.
"
Something for everyone
Shane Turner | Montreal, Canada | 03/19/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It seems that everybody has their own favorite track off this disc, some like one track, while others like another. The overall feel of this album is most similar to the Garbage EP: the tracks may feel simple, especially to those familiar with new autechre, but the beauty is in their simplicity. Also like the Garbage ep, the tracks are quite ambient and minimalistic, making for some relaxing listening.Remember... this is Autechre playing live back in 1995. Its easy to scoff now, but imagine hearing this aired live on the radio a few years ago... True, since it's live, the amount of production that went into their other studio works is not there, but in exchange, Peel Sessions seems to have that "live" vibe to it of raw, unbridled creativity, which is nice for a change. The only reason this album was even released is becuase of the fans who wanted to hear the show again.. and they had to wait 4 long years for its release. I for one didn't wait that long, as I discovered Autechre more recently. Even though I have all their albums (and have heard their rarer gescom releases) I still enjoy throwing this album into the CD player (or on the turntable) now and then as it makes for a very enjoyable listen. Definitely worth getting, there's sure to be something on it that will jump out at you."
Not essential
Shane Turner | 08/04/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This Single-CD includes three pieces from a John- Peel-Session late 1995. These tracks match with those on Autechre's "Tri Repetae"-album, which was released nearly the same time this session was done. "Milk DX" and "Inhake 2", the first two tracks, are alright, but "Drane" lingers too long without interesting sounds. If you are a completist, you can buy it, otherwise this Single-CD is not essential."