So, two weeks after the release of SIGN, Autechre have dropped another album. It’s different in some ways and similar in others.
The first question that comes up is whether or not this is a distinct album or a very long EP of reworks and leftovers. They’ve certainly done album-length EP’s before. However, the catalog number begins with the WARP prefix denoting as a proper album (EP’s generally use WAP). A very smart guy on Reddit also has an interesting take on the actual numbering that seems to confirm this.
The problem is, this feels more like a collection of tracks rather than a cohesive album. The sequencing is odd, and I’m not sure how it fits. Instead, it reminds me of the relationship between Oversteps and Move of Ten. I’m hearing some of the same patches from SIGN, but this record feels friskier and less formal.
The second question is, does it have beats? Continued...