Review Summary: A pioneering IDM gem, Autechre's masterstroke, Amber, is a stunning aural trip.
Over the years, Autechre has earned quite a name for itself. The duo consisting of longtime partners Rob Brown and Sean Booth, thrive from Rochdale, Manchester, and have been hailed as one of the pioneers of modern electronic music. While heavily associated with IDM, Booth and Brown are equivocal about relating their sound to established genres. Their music has exhibited a gradual shift in style throughout their career, from their earlier work with clear roots in techno, house and electro, to later albums that are often considered experimental and incorporate sounds from glitch, featuring complex beat arrangements and obscure melodies.
Autechre's second LP features many different sounds associated with IDM, with some tracks that have an ambient spark while others have deep veins of techno and acid house. The group's sound was and still is dissimilar to modern day dance music, and Amber is an attestation to their style. Foil begins the album with a distinctly eerie feel to it, with droning keyboards playing out over a series of sparse percussion patterns; the reverberating and crumbling bass reduces its straightforward danceability, creating an ominous but brilliant introduction to the album. However, the album subtly changes its sound with the second track Montreal, that boasts a more accessible melody and has a skittering drum pattern, developing into a layered and fascinating standout.
The album also features some ambient highlights in the form of the meditative and gorgeous track Yulquen, and the lush, dreamy offering Nine. While beatless, these tracks have a more contemplative, ethereal quality and showcase the duo's incorporation of different textures. The lush production is also an asset to the record. Each track is meticulously crafted with crisp beats and warm melodies, best demonstrated in the tracks Nil and Slip, and each detail benefits from the sumptuous production, so that the music never sounds overcrowded or distorted. Each track flows into one another in a captivating and cohesive fashion, seeming as though Amber is all just one colossal track, evolving and transcending into a diverse electronic masterpiece.
While Autechre is still releasing new music to this day, none of their records possess the greatness of Amber. The album stands the test of time as an IDM classic, and competes with the very best of Aphex Twin's and even Brian Eno's works. Though there are some tracks that may overstay their welcome (the 10-minute behemoth Further) or lose their allure after a few listens, Amber still has many positives, such as its smooth, avant-garde production and ambient charisma. The record has influenced many talented underground musicians, and is a must-have for any IDM zealot or anyone who appreciates good music. So play this record, and allow it to take you on a trip back to the marvelous days of electronic music. It's bloody amazing stuff.
