Autechre – Cichlisuite

Here's hoping if it ever gets a vinyl reprint it's the 2x12" version that the promo got rather than a normal 1xLP. Collectively it's 29 and a half minutes so 1xLP wouldn't be out of the question, but it's officially labeled an EP by the band so 2x12" more clearly telegraphs the band's intention.

Kind of confusing that there are two separate 12" versions 'wap 96' and 'wap 96r' both with the same exact title, but that each contain a different selection from the five tracks. Rather than a 2x12" EP. But then I guess AE were never opposed to being confusing.

Interestingly, stage 3 of the video game "Space Harrier II" is called Yees Land.

Pretty solid EP. 3 inner tracks are the highlight for me. Pencha rocks. Probably the funkiest and most gangster head bobbing you will have to do to any Autechre discography track. Around 3:00 this bass kicks in and well...get a subwoofer and turn it up. Some of the click sounds haven't aged as well as we would have liked them to but the overall feel has remained thanks to decent melodies and baselines. Baselines might be one of the most underrated parts of their songs. Characi explains my view there. Holding together the album in it's middle point of the way through giving the album the depth it needs. While Yeesland is pretty forgettable compared to what was released on the full lengths around the same time. Krib is up there with Dropp as far as the best short and sweet meloncholly tracks autechre have ever done. Tilapia is pretty decent and grows on you although it is fairly predictable and that isn't a good thing for Autechre I think. Pretty solid 7/10 stars

LP5's little brother, all enthusiastic jock with only a moment ("Krib") of crystalline melancholy. Geometric Nord Lead muscles over a papery, twisting beatbox skeleton.

Yeesland kicks off with crunchy, cascading digital beats carving side to side, as if through trees over banks of snowy pads. Pencha carries the aesthetic but faster, darker, angsty. Cichlisuite fragments into goofy abstraction, though is still quite listenable. Krib is icier with a melancholy, bad-news melody. Tilapia picks it up and heads home, echoing somewhat their remix of Merzbow's Ecobondage (Ending).

Old news but if you haven't heard it yet, you need to. Energetic, synthetic bliss. Nobody made EPs like Autechre. I wish they still did.

I feel the need to comment on this outstanding release by Booth/Brown. This is probably (IMO) the pinnacle of the AE sound, mutating from the mid-period(Tri Repetae/Chiastic Slide) to the later more abstract style. This gave a good idea of where they were going next, and was a perfect transition into the sound of the brilliant LP5. Really give it a listen, and you'll noice that the melodies are light but catchy, and the beats will make your mind flip . A perfectly programmed and all around beautiful mini album.

I feel the need to comment on this outstanding release by Booth/Brown. This is probably (IMO) the pinnacle of the AE sound, mutating from the mid-period(Tri Repetae/Chiastic Slide) to the later more abstract style. This gave a good idea of where they were going next, and was a perfect transition into the sound of the brilliant LP5. Really give it a listen, and you'll noice that the melodies are light but catchy, and the beats will make your mind flip . An perfectly programmed and all around beautiful mini album.

Absolutely killer release from Booth/Brown. Each track is ripp'n with it's "click-click" drum and bass beats. The track "Krib" adds a nice soft touch to this EP. The artwork for this release, as well as the 12" versions, is great. My personal favorite from the AE releases. This was the release that made me say, "WOW, if Autechre keeps this up they’re my new favorite group.", and they still are.

Absolutely SOLID EP from the boys of Autechre. This was made around the period where their beats were getting increasingly more abstract, and many people who were a fan of their earlier, more melodic sound were dropping away. A damn shame, as this EP has some fantastic works. I'll keep it short though, and I have to say that the wild, ever-mutating "Tilapia" is perhaps Autechre's best song, and one of my all time favourites. Pick this up if you liked Chiastic Slide, or the melodies featured in earlier works, this mixes the both VERY well!

Cichlisuite is a bit of a departure from Chiastic Slide and a bit disappointing. You can hear the similarities of Chiastic Slide and Cichlisuite but they are minuscule at best. Don’t get me wrong Krib is one of the most amazing tracks Autechre have ever produced, it sort of reminds me of Aphex Twin’s Bucephalus Bouncing Ball. Yeesland is also a very interesting track with a lot of potential but Autechre was on the downslide from the EP on. You can only experiment so far before you just make noise, that’s all I’m saying.