Autechre – Amber

My copy is identical to this issue in all ways, except disc doesn't have a SID code and Matrix ends with 'M1S1'. Variant or separate release?

I’ve been listening to Amber for the past few weeks, listening to every detail, every eccentricity that makes up this beautiful masterpiece of electronic art. At first I wasn’t too fond of the extremely detailed ambient textures I found. Tri Repeatae had given me a precursor, I had expected heavy beat experimentation coupled with some underlying melodies, and a bit less ambience. Amber is much smoother and darker than Tri Repeatae and is also much more melodic. Autechre at this point had Ambient music down to its very last element, and had too move on. Once again Autechre closes a chapter of its musical talent with a great piece of Ambient work. A must have and in my opinion and one of the top Warp Records releases to date.

This by far one of my most beloved ambient works. Truly stellar melodies are scored here. Coming to mind are Montreal, Silverside, and Nil. Nil is considered by me to be one the most moving pieces Booth and Brown have constructed. Building deceptively and intelligently, the track flows like a raging river that is placid. Silverside is an emotional work that will leave your love bucket spilled on the floor. Lastly, Montreal is a classic 1-2 beat surface liner. Do not forget the structured works here as well. Slip is a fine example of this. Slip's beats are fantastic and bounce about in a wonderfully off beat manor. Somehow these guys can make such sense out of these scenario-esque off beats they put themselves into. Not mentioned above is Teartear. It is the arrival of the executioner. Be careful and don't let it take your life. This is a fine album for fans of the old and semi-new era of Autechre.

The group's second full-length is probably them at their most ambient. You almost expect it to be after gazing at the beautiful cover work. If you're looking for sharp, angular, non-rhythmic arrangements you won't find them here. Instead it's a cool, reverberating, hypnotic trip from start to finish. Recommended if you like other contemporary releases from Biosphere, The Orb and FSOL.