Autechre
Envane

"Envane" (Warp, 1997) represents the most monotone episode within Autechre's rich production. In fact, never before has a single idea been used, developed, and dissected in all (four) tracks of an ep instead of branching into more 'directions' that we find in most releases—especially eps—by Booth & Brown. The idea in question is then only partially sketched out on the successful "Chiastic Slide" (which will be released shortly thereafter within a few weeks), namely the unusual use of hip hop beats (very close to the instrumental experiments that artists like Lotus, Prefuse 73, and generally those disseminating the so-called glitch-hop ethos will propose later) and more consistent than in the past, of clear melodic elements, more usual than usual.

It is no coincidence then to even find some scratches on "Goz Quarter", a track with futuristic tones featuring a solid and effective 2/4 signature, dubbed riffs, enveloping reverbs, and clearly—after all, we are talking about Autechre—a dense microforest of glitches, metallic accents, and assorted noises that accompany the delicate analog lullaby the track drags on. It is probably far too repetitive with its ten minutes lacking significant variations. A geometric intro of only sound errors (distorted like in the rawest power electronics but extraordinarily clean like in highly digitalized IDM) anticipates the thematic, this time with sinister and furious tones, of "Latent Quarter", where another hip-hop beat (but deliberately distorted) now assumes, contrary to what was heard before, a secondary role compared to the progressive riff.

Melodic approach and technical solutions (sound and timbre of the synth, slowing tempo, thick beat, and backdrop) are the same on the excellent "Laughing Quarter", which if we exclude the original noisy undergrowth (a sort of synthesized demonic cries—already experimented on "Amber" indeed—) does not add anything to what has already been shown in the other two tracks, just as the long "Draun Quarter" does not add anything, with cyclic metallic clangs accompanying the rhythmic section, that now calls more to electro than to hip hop, along with an inspired warm and sinuous motif, making it the most successful track of "Envane".

The final result is positive, essential for those who appreciated the 'twin' "Chiastic Slide", but from them, and especially from an EP, more is always expected than four carbon copies.