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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Confield

EMAILPRINTby Autechre

Autechre reviews
82
9.5 User Score:

Album Info

Label: Warp

Release Date: 15 May 2001

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): Electronic

Summary

One of the preeminent practitioners of the style of electronica labeled "Intelligent Dance Music," Autechre (consisting of Sean Booth and Rob Brown) returns with its first album in three years.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

90

Mojo

The mind-boggling intricacies and moody, broody sound-sculpting on tracks like Pen Expers find Autechre zooming off, leaving their followers eating cosmic dust. [May 2001, p.110]

90

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Confield, Autechre's sixth full-length and its best release since 1997's Chiastic Slide, may also be its most ambitious.

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88

Pitchfork

Confield promises elegant production, accessibility in moderation, and one of the most enveloping, thought-provoking listening experiences to come forth from leftfield this year.

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80

Neumu.net

Confield presents one of the purest approximations of "machine music" we've heard yet. It's profoundly unsettling, but that's half its beauty; it's a sonic Frankenstein that refuses to let its plug be pulled.

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80

New Musical Express

Essentially more surgical sonic detritus, it is Autechre nuanced, minutely reprocessed and at the top of their game.

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80

Alternative Press

Confield not only documents the future of IDM; it also cements Autechre's name in the pantheon of sonic visionaries. [Jul 2001, p.63]

70

Urb

Autechre are mulching electronic music, letting their code sweat and rot in the heat. In doing so, they set off a complex ecological process that is interesting to watch, if not always pretty to listen to. [#84, p.105]

70

Spin

A series of six-minute tracks that set some sort of richly (or ripely?) spastic texture-beats against ethereal drone-shimmers. [Aug 2001, p.136]

70

Almost Cool

It's kind of a mess in places.

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60

Blender

They've all but abandoned 4/4 grooves, discarded bass as an inefficient distraction and fractured their beats into splintery beatlets that detonate in flurries. [Jun/Jul 2001, p.105]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 9.5 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Vodkajihad gave it a10:
Incredible. Pen Expers is the culmination of a promise made by electronic music at its inception.

Andrew D. gave it a10:
The absence of music to create illusions of sounds not there is what Confield (note the field i.e. the music and the con which is the deception) tries to and so magnificently succeeds in doing as an album. This is probably one of the greatest albums of all time, definitely listen. 10/10.

DemonicAngel gave it a 9:
Labeling Confield as a mere dance album would be an injustice. It's more accurately described as an extended and sometimes rather unsettling study in sonic texture, rhythm and ambience that happens to have been produced on electronic devices. It's so far removed from most other music that it's scary. The only reason it doesn't get a 10 is the overly messy final track. Otherwise, an innovative, compelling, and frequently confounding album - and one which, in a society obsessed with instant gratification, will never really get the attention it deserves.

istvan gave it a 10:
No-Fear-Music. As such, a very efficient (though not instant) treatment for inner fears. Leaves no room for complacency, but pays back the listener's effort in unexpected ways. Vital.

Benjamin Bunny gave it a 10:
"Confield"'s massive accompishment takes time to reveal itself, but once it does it makes most other electronic music sound childish--including Autechre's earlier albums. A most challenging, ecstatic, terrifying, thrilling, inditimidating, mind-altering experience...the best electronic record of this new century.

Nick P gave it a 9:
One of Autechre's and modern music's most ambitious and foward looking album. This stuff is ahead of it's time, alright. Just you wait.

Tobi M gave it a 10:
The best Album yet, its full scale will only be recognized in 10 years. Fantastic

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