From Jonathan Tedds Sent Thu, Jun 10th 1999, 16:05
I've been listening to EP7 on and off since it came out on Monday here in the UK. Agree with Jameel that the case is excellent - though I prefer the pictures on the back to the wiggly lines of the cover. I liked Christian's second review - you're not alone in thinking that there is a generally welcome return to tracks with a little more warmth compared to LP5. To me, LP5 certainly has the ae haunting tune factor - insinuating themselves into your mind. But for me the sounds of LP5 are rather dry compared to their best material and there are some more solid sounds here again interspersed with outtakes from LP5 recording(?). For what it's worth, here are some doodlings I made as I listened to EP7 - though it's not easy describing music with words.... Autechre - EP7 - they've got a system, a brand new system...sometimes. -1.) [untitled] - spooky effects to start you off - a little different too. Only just heard this for the first time this morning... 1.) R Peg - Squelchfest - accessible - wet is the word. A kind of jazz theme surfaces periodically. 2.) CCEC - Vox - rolled r's with rapid-fire delays and repeats - insistent chord sequence added growing weight by gently hissing cymbals. 3.) Squeller - Sweeping crescendos of percussive effects cushioned by mellow chord pads of progressively increasing pitch. 4.) Left Bank - Russian state broadcasts intervene on beaten art installation a la LP5 (ae in appropriate title shocker!) 5.) Outpt - Incunubudrumming and hum-a-long cascades of effects roll into view periodically and are then given a sharp clip round the ear for their trouble - they have to know who's boss. 6.) Dropp - Ponderous bass - definite Incunubula echoes here again coupled with noisy sweeps. 7.) Liccflii - LP5 derived abstraction - meandering tones attempt to make music from the madness with questionable success. 8.) Maphive 6.1 - Excellent, chime-laden track. A new direction - more solid sounds and twisting hook threaing disparate beats into whole. Orchestral drum rolls to open. 9.) Zeiss Contarex - back to LP5 gubbins again but more solid in the tunes dept with satisfyingly drawn out bass tones a la Human League circa 1981 underpinning a gentle hip-hop beat arrangement. 10.) Netlon Sentinel - more LP5 outtake. I think the lads are sometimes guilty of not allowing some of their musical ideas the space to breathe as they once used to... 11.) Pir - Resolution of a kind. Incunubula influenced - charming melody a welcome antidote to the rather dry sounds of LP5. Cheers, Jonny