I bought this on vinyl when it came out, its the only Autechre record I own and i just played it for the first time in years after seeing them live in Bristol last night. This is a really great record. Rae and the last two tracks especially are gorgeously emotive and stylistically unhampered by genre limits. As a hardware producer myself, its staggering that they programmed this shit at the very dawn of computer audio and software manipulation. Like Photek and Foul Play, this is B-boy music pushed to the limits of technical dexterity and beyond.

This and the Bola LP bookended the 90s intelligent/IDM movement in the UK for me. Autechre's sound now is way wilder, more rhythmical and improvisational, approaching free jazz levels of spontanaety and creative fearlessness. Last night's show was sick. Ironically, given the journalistic cliches they have always attracted, there's far more genuine human feel and risk in their music than in the average chart pop record that's been pro tooled to death.

I cleave more to the Detroit and Den Haag branches of the electro tree which is why I don't own more Autechre, but if you're coming to this in 2016 wanting to get yourself a dozen or so essential 90s albums from UK techno (because fuck IDM, frankly, all this music is techno) - give this one a careful listen and i think you'll be adding it to your list.

Autechre ... huge respect to you both for the path you've forged in this music. I may not be your #1 fan but I'm fucking glad you're out there representing and doing what you do. Long may it continue!

Sad release.
I'd have to say that this is where Ae ends for me and going back on this after at least 10 years changes nothing.
It sounds like the guys spent these days secluded alone in the studio, no input, feeding off noodle soup only for months.
The techniques are less complex and less intricate than in the previous Chiastic Slide era and lacks soul and deepness, I'd conclude that the sound is straight out flat and dull.
The only upside is Arch Carrier, that would (almost) fit in on the Chiastic Slide album.
I admit that I keep this only because it says Autechre on the cover.

Having recently purchased this, I can say that this is probably the best $70 I have ever spent. The music in this album has a profound level of detail, as is normal for Autechre, while still maintaining a very honest and expressive tone. Situated just between Autechre's ambient period and the beginnings of the generative and intensely calculated era, this is a perfect midway point balancing the two. The record packaging feels relatively durable and the minimal theme is oddly pleasing to look at. I like the idea that the record sleeves aren't meant to be removed, though it does make it difficult to remove and return the records, as the round and stiff sleeves don't cooperate very well inside the jacket. The sideways writing also makes me confused as to how I'm meant to orient the jacket. It should also be noted that–like other releases from the time period–the records, while thin, are still rigid and don't feel very flimsy. That said, this is a wonderful release, and anyone who has the opportunity and is considering this record will not likely be disappointed, in my opinion.