Confield

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• experimental
• electronic
• electronica
• abstractTemplate:Duration (Standard)
  Template:Duration (Japanese Edition)Warp* Rob Brown
• Sean Boothx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}

Confield is the sixth studio album by British electronic music duo Autechre. It was released on 30 April 2001 through Warp Records on 2xLP, CD and digital services. The album marked a significant shift in sound for the duo, moving towards abstract and experimental tracks instead of the previous warm, ambient sounds of Amber and Tri Repetae. Confield was the first Autechre studio album to utilise generative programs such as Max. The album received general acclaim; critics enjoyed its experimental nature, though some thought it was overly robotic and unapproachable.

Background

Autechre are a British electronic music duo composed of members Rob Brown and Sean Booth.<ref name="aeinterview">Template:Cite news</ref> After the release of the self-titled album Lego Feet in 1991,<ref name="aeq">Template:Cite news</ref> their first project under the Autechre name would come with the release of Cavity Job later in December.<ref name="aeq" /> The duo's first studio album, Incunabula, was a surprise success.<ref name="barnes">Template:Cite news</ref> After signing with Warp Records, the duo would go on to release albums such as Amber and Tri Repetae, which were received mostly positively by critics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Production

With Confield, the duo largely abandoned the ambient and melodic styles of their earlier works such as Amber and Tri Repetae in favour of more chaotic and abstract sound palettes.<ref name="aeinterview" /> As their style grew more experimental, Confield and their later albums would see the use of software like Max to form the basis of songs rather than physical synthesisers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="triquietus">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="mr">Template:Cite news</ref> According to Booth, most tracks from Confield originated from experiments with this software that would not fit in with a club environment.<ref name="aeinterview" />

Confield and later releases by the duo such as Exai would make use of generative sequences done through Max.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="mr" /> Brown and Booth later noted the use of something called "the system" while making their music; a large network of synthesisers and other digital processes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The duo have also stated in interviews that the music created by this system is not entirely random, and still requires human control to guide and change tracks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Composition

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Confield has been described as IDM,<ref name="allmusic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> experimental,<ref name="allmusic" /> electronic,<ref name="spin">Template:Cite journal</ref> electronica,<ref name="guardian">Template:Cite news</ref> and abstract.<ref name="allmusic" /> In a review for Pitchfork, Malcolm Seymour III described how abstract the album was in comparison to the duo's previous projects.<ref name="pitchfork">Template:Cite news</ref> Seymour III also stated how Confield was a lot less accessible to newer listeners compared to Autechre's previous projects.<ref name="pitchfork" /> Mike Barnes of The Independent called the music harsh but beautiful, noting its repetitive beats and its complex rhythms throughout.<ref name="barnes" /> In a retrospective review of Tri Repetae for The Quietus, Gary Suarez noted how the album treated melodies like "bitter foes", with sounds being timestretched and manipulated.<ref name="triquietus" /> Louise Bradbury of OffBeat noted how melodies "took secondseat" with Confield, with sweeping percussive elements being the main focus of the album.<ref name="ob">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Tony Naylor of NME called "Sim Gishel" a track with atmospheric, stifled melodies and disjointed beats.<ref name="NME">Template:Cite journal</ref> "Eidetic Casin" was also noted for its "iridescent chimes".<ref name="NME" /> Pascal Wyse of The Guardian commented on the "strange sampled snoring" of "Uviol" and the melodies resembling voices on "Lentic Cathachresis".<ref name="guardian" /> In a review for AllMusic, John Bush described "Cfern" as a track that "keeps listeners guessing" with conflicting rhythms and confusing beats.<ref name="allmusic" /> Bush also said the opener "VI Scose Poise" contained "bouncing-ball-in-a-ring-modulator production" along with melodies in the minor key.<ref name="allmusic" /> Seymour III compared "Pen Expers" to drill 'n' bass with "vacuum-navigated" percussion.<ref name="pitchfork" /> "Parhelic Triangle" contains a brooding baseline and a variety of chimes; Seymour III compared the track to "Acroyear2" from LP5.<ref name="pitchfork" /> In Sounding Art, Katharine Norman stated "Bine" contained warped drum machines and disordered sounds.<ref name="soundingart">Template:Cite book</ref> Norman compared the track to a "machine gone mad".<ref name="soundingart" />

Reception

Confield received acclaim from critics.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At Metacritic, which aggregates scores from mainstream critics and assigns a weighted average, Confield has an average score of 82 based on 10 reviews, indicating "critical acclaim".<ref name="MC"/>

Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Malcolm Seymour III gave the album an 8.8 out of 10, concluding that Autechre fans would feel alienated by the release.<ref name="pitchfork" /> However, Seymour III also noted the high production value of the album and that it was "thought-provoking".<ref name="pitchfork" /> Tony Naylor of NME gave Confield an 8 out of 10, stating the release was not "emotionally detached" and calling it both "biologically warm" and imaginative.<ref name="NME" /> Spin's Eric Weisbard gave the album a 7 out of 10, concluding that the album was a variety of six minute tracks that set texture-beats against drone-shimmers.<ref name="spin" /> Confield was covered in a 2001 issue of Billboard, stating that the duo's music would likely be picked apart, as well as calling them influential.<ref name="billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was also noted that the audience should instead "sit back and let [the album] wash over [them]".<ref name="billboard" /> In a review for Blender, Douglas Wolk described how the duo had moved away from traditional compositions to fractured beats that "detonate in flurries".<ref name="blender" /> Wolk also noted how Autechre "[pushed] the outer limits of their craft" with Confield.<ref name="blender" /> Louise Bradbury of OffBeat gave a positive review, calling the album "breathtaking".<ref name="ob" />

Some critics gave mixed reviews. Ben Sisario gave Confield three stars in The Rolling Stone Album Guide.<ref name="rsag" /> Sisario mentioned the "crunching, robotic rhythms" and "clean, spacey melodies" of Confield and Draft 7.30, but also noted how newer Autechre releases maintained a sense of "mind-numbing sameness".<ref name="rsag" /> John Bush of AllMusic gave the album three stars and commented that the album contained signs of the duo's earlier work.<ref name="allmusic" /> However, he also noted its experimental nature and said it was an album that should be respected instead of enjoyed.<ref name="allmusic" /> Pascal Wyse of The Guardian gave the album three stars, concluding that the release was overly robotic and comparing it to information overload.<ref name="guardian" /> Mark Jenkins of The Washington Post compared the sounds on Confield to the sound of a skipping CD player.<ref name="twp">Template:Cite news</ref> Jenkins also noted the stylistic change from "smooth and pulsing" tracks on the duo's previous works to "ragged and fidgety" tracks within the album.<ref name="twp" /> For Muzik, Thomas Green gave Confield a 2/5, likening its sounds to manipulated metal filaments within a dustbin.<ref name="muzik" /> While Green stated their diehard fans would still enjoy the album, he also said the duo simply "didn't surprise any more".<ref name="muzik" />

External links

• Confield at the official Warp discography (features audio clips).