Devine's Best
mrgypsum | Boston, Ma USA | 07/29/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you don't know who he is, or what his music sounds like, here is a little run down. He is most known for his work on Warp Records. He has released stuff on Schematic, Ghostly (forthcoming?), and now on Sublight. His style ranges from dsp/acid dance floor tracks - to atmospheric ambient/beat less tracks. Although to try and categorize his music, you run the risk of sounding like a fool.
Cautella is very similar to Asect:Dsect, his latest release on Schematic. Both albums feature most of the Devine styles, and also have the similar track layouts and structures. I believe Cautella to be the stronger of the two albums, but you be the judge.
Cautella starts out with a dark brooding beat less track, Helix Stair Helve. This track draws you in, but I think is serves best as the dark calm before the storm. Something in the track sounds like you are being strapped in for some kind of death ride.
Next comes Sigstop - I believe it's an older Devine track, but it fits in nicely here. It's a loud, fast assault, full with clicks and beeps and low bass hits. The end of the track is what really makes it. Usually, when ends in a sustained grinding tone, it ruins the track, but Devine pulls it off.
Onto Recursion Trail - these shorter ambient tracks are spread every other track on Cautella, they really add to the structure and atmosphere of each track. I couldn't even imagine the album without them.
Next, Arc-Acid - probably my favorite track on this release. Another older Devine track that fits so perfectly here. It has to be heard to be believed the production is so crisp, and there are these little build-ups in the track that really sounds so powerful.
Next, Tetrad - another short essential ambient piece. Rsl-com, is a very simple repeating glitchy beat, very good and very groovy. It's the music that robots geek out to.
Onto Orr Unfolding, and what do you know, another essential ambient track. This one is very special though, think of being paralyzed in one of the most horrible situation you could ever imagine.
Repol, a very dark one, static with an almost machine-like melody. Lpr-Port, turn down your speakers for this one, a machine failing to start. Onto Parsec - a hurried click clack of beats mixed with tinglings of melody.
Vc-Demension, one thing about these ambient tracks is that they perfectly end the preceding full track and begin the next full track.
Timach - you will be very surprised when you first hear this track. Think kind of old school acid, but mixed in with some newer sounding beats - all in this muddy watery atmosphere. Finally Devine throws two tracks on at the end for good measure - Matvec Interior with Otto is very cut up, and will be a head trip for you when you first hear it. Sigstop Funkstorng remix is actually quite good and fits in beautifully.
All in all this is a great album as a whole. Devine really made something special here, the best of 2005.
"
Wonderful Intricacies
Philip | Dallas, TX | 03/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First off, I just want to say that Insound's website probably still has some of these available if you want one, so you won't have to resort to buying from those who are basking in Sublight's downfall. That's where I got mine a week ago. Hopefully these sellers on here won't give me an unhelpful rating because of this, but seriously.
Now more importantly, the album. For the first time in my life I have an album that I can truly consider a "headphones" album. That could be due to the fact that the only way I've listened to it so far is from Last.fm's new full play feature in low quality and now in high quality through headphones. Nevertheless, the music is the same. The songs are consistently interesting and each bring something new out. This is oddly an album that I can get lost in. Despite the extremely heavily textured tracks (with the exception of Timach which I'll get to later) it's possible to tune in and out while still remaining focused and interested.
This is a headphones album for me mainly because of the complexity. While you are listening through headphones you can follow the beats, glitches, and sound effects as they are created and then later destroyed by new and more powerful sounds. Each track is a constant inward battle with itself that is very reflective of the album cover. Then, out of the damage and violence the sounds are causing comes the beautiful melodic "Timach" which I listened to in awe the first time through. Not only is it great in its context but also as a standalone track.
Richard Devine created something totally original. Ignore the comparisons to Autechre because, like the Beatles with almost every modern rock group, just about every modern electronic outfit will be influenced in someway or another by Autechre. Cautella is an adventure in sound that for me was worth every penny and the little bit extra internet searching it took to find the physical copy. I definitely recommend letting this music create images in your mind much like the beautiful images printed in the linear notes."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1