Editing Confield

{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Confield
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Autechre]]
| cover      = Autechre Confield.jpeg
| alt        = The cover art for Autechre's sixth studio album, ''Confield''. It contains a variety of 3D geometry on a white background with the text "Autechre" on it.
| released   = 30 April 2001
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = * [[Intelligent dance music|IDM]]
* [[Experimental music|experimental]]
* [[Electronic music|electronic]]
* [[electronica]]
* [[Abstract music|abstract]]
| length     = {{Duration|m=62|s=00}} (Standard)<br/>{{Duration|m=73|s=02}} (Japanese Edition)
| label      = [[Warp Records|Warp]]
| producer   = * Rob Brown
* Sean Booth
| prev_title = [[Peel Session 2]]
| prev_year  = 2000
| next_title = [[Gantz Graf]]
| next_year  = 2002
}}

'''''Confield''''' is the sixth [[studio album]] by British [[electronic music]] duo [[Autechre]]. It was released on 30 April 2001 through [[Warp Records]] on [[Phonograph record|2xLP]], [[Compact disc|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 (Autechre album)|Amber]]'' and ''[[Tri Repetae]]''. ''Confield'' was the first Autechre studio album to utilise [[generative music|generative]] programs such as [[Max (software)|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">{{cite news |last1=Tingen |first1=Paul |title=Autechre – Recording Electronica |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr04/articles/autechre.htm |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[Sound on Sound]] |date=April 2004 |archive-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523102033/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr04/articles/autechre.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> After the release of the self-titled album ''[[Lego Feet]]'' in 1991,<ref name="aeq">{{cite news |last1=Robb |first1=John |title=Beyond The Radar: Autechre Interviewed |url=https://thequietus.com/interviews/autechre-interview-oversteps/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[The Quietus]] |date=8 April 2010}}</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 (album)|Incunabula]]'', was a surprise success.<ref name="barnes">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/autechre-mathematics-is--the-new-rocknroll-683346.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331164931/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/autechre-mathematics-is--the-new-rocknroll-683346.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 March 2009 |title=Autechre: Mathematics is the new rock'n'roll |access-date=28 January 2025 | author=Mike Barnes |date=29 April 2001 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</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>{{cite news |last1=Beta |first1=Andy |title=Autechre: Incunabula / Amber / Tri Repetae |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22592-incunabula-amber-tri-repetae/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=21 November 2016}}</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 music|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>{{cite news |last1=Nosnitsky |first1=Andrew |title=Autechre: NTS Sessions 1-4 |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/autechre-nts-sessions-1-4/ |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=15 May 2018 |archive-date=18 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518200054/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/autechre-nts-sessions-1-4/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="triquietus">{{cite news |last1=Suarez |first1=Gary |title=25 Years On: Autechre's Tri Repetae Revisited |url=https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/anniversary/autechre-trirepetae-review-anniversary/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[The Quietus]] |date=18 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="mr">{{cite news |last1=Mullen |first1=Matt |title=How Autechre's radically inventive music-making turned experimentation into electronica |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/pioneers-autechre |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=MusicRadar |date=15 February 2024 |language=en}}</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>{{cite news |last1=Frame |first1=Charlie |title=Autechre — Exai |url=https://thequietus.com/quietus-reviews/autechre-exai-review/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[The Quietus]] |date=25 February 2013}}</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>{{cite news |last1=Sherburne |first1=Philip |title=Autechre on Their Epic NTS Sessions, David Lynch, and Where Code Meets Music |url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/autechre-interview-nts-sessions-david-lynch-where-code-meets-music/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=9 August 2018 |archive-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108100857/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/autechre-interview-nts-sessions-david-lynch-where-code-meets-music/ |url-status=live }}</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>{{cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |title=Autechre Worked in Isolation for Decades. Now It's Unintentionally Timely. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/arts/music/autechre-sign-interview.html |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=13 October 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014051235/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/arts/music/autechre-sign-interview.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Composition ==
{{Listen
| filename = Autechre - Pen Expers.mp3
| title = "Pen Expers"
| description = The third track from ''Confield''. "Pen Expers" has been likened to a drill 'n' bass track with hard percussion and high-pitched melodies.
}}

''Confield'' has been described as [[Intelligent dance music|IDM]],<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/confield-mw0000003112 |title=Confield – Autechre |website=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=6 July 2012 |last=Bush |first=John |archive-date=21 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621234437/http://www.allmusic.com/album/confield-mw0000003112 |url-status=live }}</ref> experimental,<ref name="allmusic" /> electronic,<ref name="spin">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f4iBwoaNrbcC&pg=PT10 |title=Autechre: Confield / Built to Spill: Ancient Melodies of the Future |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=17 |issue=8 |date=August 2001 |accessdate=9 December 2018 |last=Weisbard |first=Eric |pages=136–38}}</ref> [[electronica]],<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |last1=Aizlewood |first1=John |last2=Denselow |first2=Robin |last3=Williams |first3=Richard |last4=Sullivan |first4=Caroline |last5=Wyse |first5=Pascal |last6=Aizlewood |first6=John |title=We will rock you |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/apr/27/shopping.culture2 |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=27 April 2001 |archive-date=19 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419070846/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/apr/27/shopping.culture2 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[abstract music|abstract]].<ref name="allmusic" /> In a review for ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'', Malcolm Seymour III described how abstract the album was in comparison to the duo's previous projects.<ref name="pitchfork">{{cite news |last1=Seymour III |first1=Malcolm |title=Autechre: Confield Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/365-confield/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=17 April 2001 |archive-date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420225826/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/365-confield/ |url-status=live }}</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 [[Audio time stretching and pitch scaling|timestretched]] and manipulated.<ref name="triquietus" /> Louise Bradbury of ''[[OffBeat (music magazine)|OffBeat]]'' noted how melodies "took secondseat" with ''Confield'', with sweeping percussive elements being the main focus of the album.<ref name="ob">{{cite magazine |author=Louise Bradbury |date=1 June 2001 |title=Music Reviews|url= |magazine=[[OffBeat (music magazine)|OffBeat]] |location= |issue=160 |issn=1090-0810 |page=20}}</ref>

Tony Naylor of ''[[NME]]'' called "Sim Gishel" a track with atmospheric, stifled melodies and disjointed beats.<ref name="NME">{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/autechre/4997 |title=Autechre : Confield |journal=[[NME]] |date=11 May 2001 |accessdate=28 January 2025 |last=Naylor |first=Tony |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223054842/http://www.nme.com/reviews/autechre/4997 |archivedate=23 February 2013}}</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|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">{{cite book |last1=Norman |first1=Katharine |title=Sounding Art: Eight Literary Excursions through Electronic Music |date=2004 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=Aldershot |isbn=9780754604266 |page=156}}</ref> Norman compared the track to a "machine gone mad".<ref name="soundingart" />

== Reception ==
{{Music ratings
| MC = 82/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/confield/autechre |title=Reviews for Confield by Autechre |website=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=6 July 2012 |archive-date=4 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104190113/http://www.metacritic.com/music/confield/autechre |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="allmusic" />
| rev2 = ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="blender">{{cite magazine |last=Wolk|first=Douglas|date=June 2001 |title=The Guide – New Releases|magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |publisher=Dennis Publishing |page=105}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="guardian" />
| rev4 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev4Score = 8/10<ref name="NME" />
| rev5 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev5Score = 8.8/10<ref name="pitchfork" />
| rev6 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev6Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="rsag">{{cite book |chapter=Autechre |last=Sisario |first=Ben |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/29 29] }}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev7Score = 7/10<ref name="spin" />
| rev8 = ''[[Muzik]]''
| rev8Score = 2/5<ref name="muzik">{{cite magazine |last=Green |first=Thomas |date=May 2001 |title=Autechre |magazine=[[Muzik]] |publisher=TI Media |page=67}}</ref>
}}

''Confield'' received acclaim from critics.<ref>{{cite web |last=Leone |first=Dominique |date=15 August 2002 |title=''Gantz Graf EP'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/362-gantz-graf-ep/ |access-date=29 January 2025 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> At [[Metacritic]], which aggregates scores from mainstream critics and assigns a [[weighted mean|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 (magazine)|Billboard]]'', stating that the duo's music would likely be picked apart, as well as calling them influential.<ref name="billboard">{{cite magazine |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=5 May 2001 |title=Billboard |url= |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |location= |publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc. |volume=113 |issue=18 |issn=0006-2510 |page=65}}</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 (magazine)|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">{{cite news |last1=Jenkins |first1=Mark |title=Autechre "Confield" |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/05/25/autechre-confield-warp-for-a/25dc4038-bf0c-4e8b-a8ef-a201bbd64cbb/ |access-date=28 January 2025 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=24 May 2001 |archive-date=27 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827081707/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2001/05/25/autechre-confield-warp-for-a/25dc4038-bf0c-4e8b-a8ef-a201bbd64cbb/ |url-status=live }}</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" />

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| title1          = VI Scose Poise
| length1         = 6:57
| title2          = Cfern
| length2         = 6:41
| title3          = Pen Expers
| length3         = 7:08
| title4          = Sim Gishel
| length4         = 7:14
| title5          = Parhelic Triangle
| length5         = 6:03
| title6          = Bine
| length6         = 4:41
| title7          = Eidetic Casein
| length7         = 6:12
| title8          = Uviol
| length8         = 8:35
| title9          = Lentic Catachresis
| length9         = 8:29
| total_length    = 62:00
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese bonus track
| title10         = MCR Quarter
| note10          = Recorded live at Band On The Wall, Manchester 1998
| length10        = 11:02
| total_length    = 73:02
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041223142839/http://www.warprecords.com/ography/release.php?cat=WARP128 ''Confield''] at the official Warp discography (features audio clips).

{{Autechre}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 albums]]
[[Category:Autechre albums]]
[[Category:Warp Records albums]]
[[Category:Experimental music albums]]