Autechre - Gantz Graf

"Gantz Graf" blows out of the gate with the duo's most angular and disjointed piece ever. It doesn't sound composed so much as sculpted out of pure noise. It's hard to describe, but imagine a grinding waterfall of static intercut with horrifically timestretched drums that sound like an electric shock. That may not sound appealing, but this track has a frenetic rhythm and melody that puts it among Autechre's best.

"Dial" is a set of ascending arpeggios backed by (relatively) straightforward drums and weird processed talking. Unfortunately there is some crackling in the high frequencies of this track that hurt my ears.

"Cap.IV" is a reinterpretation of Confield's "Lentic Catachresis", a carefully-constructed piece of sound that gradually comes apart at the seams until nothing but chaos remains. Unlike its predecessor, however, it never really reaches a peak before beginning to disintegrate, so the whole thing sounds aimless to these ears.

Bottom line? I've given up trying to understand what's going on in the heads of Sean and Rob, but they're still one of the most entertaining and original electronic acts out there.

This is one of those CDs that you love to hate. As big of an Autechre fan as I am... Even I find this release to be pretty annoying. But I come back for more abuse from time time. The opening track, Gantz Graf, is an assault on your ears and honestly can't be classified as music. Sounds like a combination of a high pitched pinball machine and an engine trying to start up. Track two actually has a beat to it, but still isn't an easy listen. Cap.IV actually makes me feel sick to my stomach sometimes... Probably all in my head. Autechre goes beyond weird with this one. 3/5 simply because its so dang hard to enjoy... but the challenge is fun!

This EP is a tough listen, but ultimately a rewarding experience. I listened to these 3 tracks 4 times in one day when I first got it. The first listen it almost sounded like noisey nonesense and I wasn't impressed. Not wanting to give up on it, I listened again and while it was more bearable that time around, it still seemed kinda crazy. The 3rd listen is when things started to click. I began hearing patterns and structures that I didn't notice before. The 4th listen I came to terms with it and accepted it for what it is... a noisey, clicky, multi-layered release. And I dare say i've come to love this little EP now!

Since it's beyond my abilities to formulate this in a way so as to not offend any parties where this EP might have been well-received, I'll just proceed in unfiltered mode.

As a person who appreciates many types of electronica, and who holds Autechre's "Amber" in quite high regard, I can safely say that this release is by far the most closed, overly "weird-for-the-purpose-of-being-weird", über-experimentalizing and inaccessible release that has ever managed to pass through my stereo.

Naturally, I was not totally unprepared for what was about to rampage through my hifi equipment, but..

Sweet jumping Jesus in an elastic pink rubber suit; this really is something to listen to if one were to grasp the whole concept of sonic warfare using randomized noises, coupled with elements of incomprehensible screaming static, superimposed on a background of delicious raw bitstream noise (except the fact that regular background noise is usually far more pleasant.)

First off, the title track. This is the least accessible of the three. If I ever were to try to torture (or kill) a prospective listener, this would be my track of choice. Actually, in addition to encouraging internal hemorrhaging in the victim, it would probably also do a pretty good job in obliterating a couple of vintage high-end tube-systems, as well as a wide selection of speaker systems. But enough about that.

If you were lucky enough to make it through the first track, the second - "Dial." - is actually melodic in comparison. Which is not to say it has any real rhythm or conceivable structure to it; however far-reaching interpretations of sound/melody/noise you would choose to apply to your particular definition of musicality.

Lastly, "Cap.IV". This one is an excruciating mesh of unconnected noises and static that seem to be playing backwards at around 170% speed. On the positive side, your torture session is now almost over.

The fact that someone actually tries to explain this CD in a conventional, approving manner, and in doing so attempts to justify it by employing a "pushing the envelope" kind of rationale, shows the willingness of certain individuals to try to distinguish themselves as self-proclaimed "elitist" listeners.
In my opinion this CD serves the sole purpose of creating such people who (in their mind) have the capacity to define structure where it does not exist, and thereby placing those listeners in a league of their own.

But for the rest of us: caveat emptor.

The first track, Gantz Graf, is one of the most complex things ever made by the band of musicians. It's rhythm is hypnotic, yet pounding, totally smashing the brain to the ground. The first minute cleans the head pretty well, much like the soft but cold needle-like rain.

Other two tracks are not such complicated, but rather cool anyways, Dial makes me think of some crazy pianist breaking loose in front of his instrument, and Cap IV resembles me of Lentic Catachresis and Under BOAC with their tendency to speed up progressively till the end of the track.

I recomment this to all you who aren't afraid of listening to different experiments in electronic music.

The Gantz Graf video is essential to demoscene freaks and other 3D-art lovers. Alex Rutterford made one of the most adequate IDM videos in the history, I think. There couldn't be more adequate video for this track, for example. :)

Cap IV is extraordinary! At first it borders on being just irregular noise, but it doesn't take long until you are transfixed and totally into the track. It revolts towards an incredible mass of smashed beats and hypnotic cuts.

This is an AMAZING EP! The best tracks are Gantz Graf, which is an excellent progression from Confield, and Cap.IV, which IMHO is the BEST Autechre track EVER. Dial is also very very good, but the other 2 tracks are much more sonically engaging. Overall, I rate it 10/10- especially the 2XCD pack with a DVD video of Gantz Graf, Second Bad Vibel and Basscadet- AH!

Gantz Graf is the latest document proving that, cliche as it may be, Autechre are indeed pioneers of electronica. Since 1998 or so, rhythms have been the focus of their compositions. This EP, especially the last two tracks, really showcases their skills in creating bewilderingly complex, yet somehow funky rhythms.

They are still moving forward with their music...but just barely. With each successive release, they almost seem more set in their ways. Perhaps this EP is a foreshadow of an album to come. Only then will we see if Autechre is still as cutting edge as they once were.

Gantz Graf is recommended as a funky, listenable EP, but does not contain any real eye-openers or clues as to what may come next.

Globe199