Autechre: Quaristice
Warp, 2008
Autechre’s first album in nearly three years will probably take nearly that long to sink in, but my first impression is pure pleasure. The opening track, “Altibzz,” teases with warm synths seemingly played live. I liken it to the first sip of hot tea—very satisfying. “The Plc” is electro on speed. Each note is quirky in some way. About two-thirds of the way through it breaks down into digitized laughter, then snippets of a familiar hip-hop sample. “IO” crunches what sounds like a news reporter through robotic processing.
A few of the tracks seem more experimental than musical. At first, “Simmm” reminds me of a gamelan. The sounds ride a razor’s edge between pluck and percussion. Then more and more of them build, almost randomly until the inevitable break-down, in this case chunks of panning bass. The notes on “paralel Suns” sink as reverb increases, dragging the hapless listener into whale-song depths. Listening to “Fol3,” I imagine a video game where players throw huge, crumbling, blocks of pixels at each other.
Other cuts remind me of an earlier era. On “rale,” electronics groan like branches rubbing together over a boom-chick beat. I know I’ve heard those chords before. On “90101-5l-l,” Autechre construct a glitchy groover from squelches and phasers. “Theswere” is wonderfully melodic but painfully brief, while “chenc9” evokes the style of LP 5. “Notwo” is lovely deep ambience. “Outh9X” builds slowly and beat-lessly with fascinating bass.
Even after nine albums and an equal number of EPs, Autechre’s Brown and Booth are full of fresh ideas. It feels like the varied electronic sounds here grew into place just so. Each part is perfectly placed, like a flower arrangement that would be ruined with even the slightest change.
Ae never cease to surprise me with their originality. Really looking forward to seeing them live this April in NY. Great album, but yes, it will take awhile to sink in.
mannequin_brain, Jan 31, 2008 10:23 AM
ae,ae,ae, very difficult for me! But what a great tracks. It will take some time to really kick in! Like "plyPhon", "theswere", "simmm", "The PLC" and "FOL 3".
6 MARCH IN AMSTERDAM; I WILL BE THERE !!!
exm, Feb 4, 2008 4:29 PM
Most boring Ae record ever. Nothing new to the electronic genre. Im a biggest Autechre fan in the world and all this waiting for nothing...have to stay listening all the old records :(
bad vilbel, Feb 8, 2008 9:29 AM
I second you, vilbel. It feels like a moderately ambitious fanboy product, a spiritless self-parody. If it were not for their name, nobody would care. (And I'm their greatest fan, too, Draft is my all-time fave record.)
irripod, Feb 14, 2008 5:41 AM
This album is terrible. I've given it lots and lots of chances, listened in many places - even on various drugs! It's absolute dross. It feels like they released it as a joke on their loyal fans. However, they still have a great back catalogue to listen too so I'm not too sad!
ed, Feb 25, 2008 4:08 PM
I've noticed that EVERYONE who gives it good reviews always says something like "it will take awhile to sink in" or "It will take some time to really kick in!". It seems that they, like me are hoping it will get better with repeated listens. It doesn't. There are some good ideas and some interesting sounds, but it's a painful and boring listen overall.
ed, Feb 25, 2008 4:13 PM
this album is fantastic
Tankakern is simply incredible
kevk555, Feb 25, 2008 10:56 PM
After a second listen today, I’ll concur that this record isn’t all that exciting, but still worth a listen. It’s more minimal, straightforward and incorporates ambience more than anything they’ve done in a very long time. It’s a change of pace that, while not exactly groundbreaking, still has some merit. The 5-star rating here is a bit of a stretch, as I personally prefer Untitled, but Quaristice still kills Confield, which while not entirely inaccessible was more of a bore IMO.
precenphix, Feb 27, 2008 7:04 AM
So much negativity on here!
What were you expecting?! Yes, Draft was amazing, but that does not mean that they will, at some stage, follow with something so immense that upon first play it will crush your speakers into a black hole and end all of humanity!
I've given it 3 listens and have enjoyed each more and more - it's a really good electronica album - it this were a debut from a new artist you'd probably all be raving about it now for it's 'originality'!
It's a maturing - a movement with time. 8/10 :)
Alec JP, Mar 3, 2008 6:16 PM
I have just replaced Ae's 1995 Peel Session with Quaristice in my CD player.
Having dutifully studied the last 3 albums, this is right back in the zone for me, 15 minutes is plenty for it to settle in.
To those who don't like it - beware of cheap hi-fi and earwax, but there's nothing you can do about growing old.
Mongo, Mar 4, 2008 4:33 AM