Confield

About

With Confield, Sean Booth and Rob Brown largely abandoned the warm ambient sounds of their earlier works such as Amber and Tri Repetae in favour of the more chaotic feel that they had been pursuing with LP5, EP7, and Peel Session. Confield saw the experimental use of computer programs to form the basis of songs instead of stand-alone synthesizer. According to Booth, "Most of Confield came out of experiments with Max that weren't really applicable in a club environment." One of the more controversial aspects of the album's production wa, like EP7, the use of generative sequences for certain aspects of the song. Booth countered thi, arguing that although the beats created with the sequences may seem completely random to some people, that he and Brown had tight control over the limits and rules of what the beats could do, and that the concept was no different to the improvisation found in jazz. Although the bases of most of the songs were created by computer, analogue synthesizers and conventional drum machines were in fact used in many of the track. The cover art for this release is a screenshot from a short animation created by Booth and Brown. Pitchfork Media gave the album an 8.8/10, the highest they have ever rated an Autechre album, claiming that, "For those willing to take these times in stride, Confield promises elegant production, accessibility in moderation, and one of the most enveloping, thought-provoking listening experiences to come forth from leftfield this year." However, Allmusic, giving the album only a 3/5, argued that Confield was "a record to respect, not enjoy," a viewpoint expressed by other review outlet. "Despite the dozens of experimental electronics producers constantly nipping at their heel, Autechre remained at the forefront of academic sound processing with a highly awaited sixth full album. Whether pushing the next new thing in 2001 is enough to keep listeners coming back to this LP years later is a much different question, and the assault of non-rhythmic beats sprayed all over Confield is enough to keep most from even trying. Opener "VI Scose Poise" is a bouncing-ball-in-a-ring-modulator production that reveals only a few of Autechre's excellent minor-key melodie, while the second off, "Cfern," keeps listeners guessing as well with a parade of conflicting rhythms and head-spinning beat. In fact, it's a palpable relief when "Cfern" leads directly into more straightforward electro territory with "Pen Exper." There are faint glimpses of the melancholy beauty of Autechre's early work, but this experimental, rigidly academic work is a record to respect, not enjoy." - Allmusic Despite the record's controversial nature, the album scores an average of 82/100 at Metacritic based on ten review, the highest average for any Autechre album on the site Track listing: 1. "VI Scose Poise" 2. "Cfern" 3. "Pen Expers" 4. "Sim Gishel" 5. "Parhelic Triangle" 6. "Bine" 7. "Eidetic Casein" 8. "Uviol" 9. "Lentic Catachresis" Japanese bonus track: 10. "MCR Quarter" (Recorded live at Band On The Wall, Manchester 1998) .

via Last.fm

The Clerk says

Start your shelf to read the full take →