Customer Reviews

Garbage

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4 star:		(1)
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Garbage was released just prior to Tri Repetae, in 1995, and it is the recording at which Autechre really hit their stride, their first true work of genius. The progression from their previous effort, Amber, is striking. The ironic thing is that it's rumored that these tracks were born from ideas that didn't make it onto that album, hence the name "Garbage." However, that would make sense because the sound of Garbage is still relatively soft, especially when compared to the mechanical harshness and pneumatic percussion that characterized Tri Repetae, which was released soon afterward. But unlike Amber, with which I wasn't very impressed, this shares one thing with Tri Repetae, brilliance. Like Amber, the four songs on this EP tend to be lengthy and minimal, but, unlike Amber, never in a pretentious or boring way; the material on Garbage is more along the lines of stuff created by Rapoon or Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works Vol. II. What I mean is that it's minimal in an appropriate, hypnotic, spritual way, but never ostentatiously so. The manner in which these songs evolve is absolutely riveting, with a complete chokehold on my attention; you can really sense that Rob and Sean were just overflowing with ideas at this stage in their career. The textures and sounds used are exquisitely chosen. The first track, and the fourteen minute highlight of this wholly magnificent EP, "garbagemx36," is a stylistic step forward for the duo in terms of how the song is built and how it evolves. It is a harbinger of the style that would be utilized later on Chiastic Slide and especially on Tri Repetae, namely beginning with some kind of percussive sound and eventually layering many other melodies and sounds that drop in and out of the mix throughout the length of the song, resulting with something that evolves in a minimal, yet very unpredictable, subtle, and extremely interesting way. "garbagemx36" begins with a stuttering disk drive sound on which strident chirping-like sounds, soft handclap beats, and ticklish sibilants are all layered, all ending with a moving string melody. The Richard D. James influence is more evident than ever on the following two tracks, "piobmx19" and "bronchusevenmx24," the latter of which, as one might expect from the name, sounding like a reworking of one of the highlight tracks from Autechre's debut album, Incunabula. Those two tracks are very much in the style of James's SAW II; they're very organic, and they sound primitive in a deliciously errie, alien sort of way. The final track of the four, "vletrmx21," reminiscent of something that the Humberstone twins from In the Nursery might write, consists of a vast, sublime melody which can be unbearable moving when I'm in a certain state of mind, and it nicely rounds out this excellent, varied EP.

Garbage is only available as an import, but U.S. fans of Autechre need not fret; they can still luckily get their hands on these songs because they are available, along with all four tracks from the Anvil Vapre EP, on the second disc of the Wax Trax! double disc release Tri Repetae, which is similarily titled Tri Repetae++. But the fact that Wax Trax!, as much as I like them, decided to do this instead of releasing the EPs seperately makes me a bit unhappy because Garbage is so damn good that it deserves to be considered on its own and not viewed as just some bonus tracks tacked onto an existing album. That's why I went out of my way and, like the stupid obsessive completist I am, spent the extra money to get this on import so I'd have the original artwork and disc. I'm hopeless. :-)

This EP is, in my eyes, the pinnacle of Autechre releases. Not to say their others were bad, but "Garbage" is so absolutely fantastic that it almost leaves something to be desired from their other work. The whole CD has a feel of loss, want, and remorse. There's a whole air about all 4 tracks that makes the album seem like a score to one of the greatest movies of all time.

Get this CD at all costs. It's just absolutely fantastic.

I've been a long time fan of Autechre, having bought Amber by accident when it came out. Ever since, when I wander into a record shop, I usually take a quick glance to see if they brought out something new. This has resulted in a collection of some of the most interesting music to be filed under "popular music" on Amazon. Autechre would probably fit better under contemporary, since their works are more comparable to e.g. La lontanaza nostalgica utopica futura by Luigi Nono than to the Prodigy. But that's just a detail.

Autechre seems to work in a very structured way, layering samples over one another to create new sounds, layering percussions over eachother to build new rythms and layering tracks onto others to construct songs. Introducing subtle changes into the chopped-up material over time results in grand pieces of impressing depth, but even that's not entirely uncommon. On the legendary "Mind The Gap" cd series from Gonzo Circus magazine, there's definitely some tracks that are as well constructed, like Benevolence from Deutsch Nepal. I also still have a harder time analyzing all the detail in the variations on the theme in the Art of Fugue by Bach.

What Autechre really excels in, is adding to these intricately constructed tracks a sense of emotion that is familiar, that grabs you and puts you off, that instantaneously moves you to tears, that leaves you all alone and very very small. It's hard to recognize this aspect on the earliest albums, specially the too diverse Amber. I was also afraid they became more oriented to the mechanics when Cichli Suite came out, but LP5 and EP7 absolutely proved me wrong. But the pinnacle is still this Garbage EP, an EP that should be bought separately because it stands on its own. The association with Anvil Vapre EP, as it's made on Tri Repetae++, is not appropriate. Anvil Vapre is as fascinating as Autechre gets when they're at their best, but Garbage is completely different. On Garbage, Autechre has left the mechanics for a large part for what they are and revert more to 80s new wave influences. The result is a surprisingly human and emotional EP. I usually don't look at titles or tracks when it comes to Autechre, but I suspect that won't do in a review.

The first track Garbagemx has some definite melancholy and small tragedy in it, but a lot of consolation and uplifting support. Like crying on your best friend's shoulder. The second track, Piobmx, dives into the hothouse of thoughts and passions. Don't turn up the volume of this EP when you're in an emotional struggle and you had a couple of drinks. Brunchusevenmx is similar but more thoughtful. And the final Vletrmx is a grand display of fear and utter horror that will leave you void. It's very hard to describe what the music does to you, because Autechre mixes a lot of subtle connotations into very strong emotions. That's why their music feels so real.

Garbage is not an EP that's easy. Autechre is never easy. But their music is as humane as music gets.

I don't think I will ever find the words to describe what breathtakingly beautiful works of art these four songs on this EP represent. The sheer capacity of these songs to be so powerful and emotionally moving, to transport the listener to alternate realities and to take control of their surroundings will never ceaze to amaze me. Listen to them in total darkness, with all your other senses cut off from the rest of the world, to achieve the optimum effect, let the collection of sounds emitted from your speakers take control of your mind and body, get ready to drift far,far away.......

The "Garbage" EP is the absolute pinnacle of the early years of Autechre. It has such a naked, honest loneliness to it that I find it hard to believe that it wasn't made by one, solitary soul... It's a testament to the quality and depth of the collaboration in this duo, and their true musical brilliance.

I don't know that there's any other music I know that so perfectly describes the quiet spaces between the hustle and bustle of everyday social interactions... Peter Leyssens has already described the individual emotions of these songs better than I ever could. There is here a condensed memorial to the countless hours spent simply thinking or working, the 'expendable' times where nothing happens, and only an aura, a feeling, a mood remains.

The sounds here are softer than on the less successful "Tri Repetae" LP, quiet, watery and airy percussion, smooth, liquid synthesizers... but the individual pieces barely matter. The pieces are repetitive and change little in their long lengths, but for once the feelings are so monumentally effective that the simplicity enhances rather than tarnishes their presence. This is music that only could have been made without thought, without technicality.. it's the polar opposite of the highly technical style of new releases. But I'll avoid further comparisons. This stands alone.

Sadly, the only way to get this EP is as part of the "Tri Repetae++" bundle, containing the LP as well as the "Anvil Vapre" EP. Both pale in comparison to "Garbage", but are both great in their own right. It's out of print but much easier to find than "Garbage" alone. I'd recommend buying it, despite my belief that "Garbage" really should remain separate.

If you are a fan of Autechre's Amber album, then you are in for a real treat. This EP is composed of 4 tracks made in the same vein as Amber's music. Tracks 1 through 3 are cool and sleek ambient vibes with rythm, while track 4, is my favorite track on here. The song just leaves you in this empty void of feeling alone and hopeless. This is a must have if you dig Autechre's Amber album.

Garbage is a "companion of sorts" to Autechre's bewildering 2nd album, Amber. Makes sense, since Garbage's album artwork is really just Amber's cover art pixelated & trashed. Also, the font "AeG" is written in is the same font used for the "AeP" on Garbage's successor, the Anti EP. But trivial similarities aside, Garbage only resembles Amber. It's entirely its own entity. Yes, these songs were left off Amber because their wasn't enough space for them to fit, but the fact that these specific songs didn't make the cut shows that they didn't fit for more than just reasons of space.
But that's enough blathering about that.
Garbage is a preposterous misnomer for this EP. These songs are indisputably resplendent. Don't let the bionic insectoid crawling sounds in the first 40 seconds of "Garbagemx36" (the 1st track) deter you. A minute into this colossal track, waves of warbling synths will gently flow over you. Then yank you out off your seat to dance to the mechanical cadence and buzzing baselines. But don't let the bizarre synth-patches & ratcheting drum fills deter you either; this is very congenial techno that's only dressed to look the part of experimentally edgy. For some reason, I always do a double take at the end of "Garbagemx36". Fourteen minutes have just passed, and yet I feel like not a single second was wasted. This song, and this whole EP for that matter, demonstrates Autechre's confounding knack for constructing a more thoroughly engaging climax than anyone else in an amount of time that could comfortably house 4 of anyone else's songs.
"Piobmx19" sounds even more alien than "Garbagemx36". Synthesizers croak, chirrup, murmur, and babble like living creatures. But somehow, this synthetic collage is not at all agitating! In fact, the song would sound stale without them. Autechre is such a marvelously idiosyncratic band.
"Bronchusevenmx24" scintillates. It's what Incunabula's "Bronchus 2" would sound like if it were written during the halcyon Amber era. Actually, that's what it sounds like because that's what it is. "Bronchus 2" was the most paranoid & raucous song on Incunabula. Here, it's nearly 10 minutes of ambient bells chiming pure sustained radiance. Yes, the percussion is a bit silly, but once again the song would sound stale without the sounds of rubber balls ricocheting off cavern walls & dripping stalactites. This song also gradually unfurls so perfectly that it transcends all time, leaving you to wonder if those 9+ minutes just evaporated.
If they did evaporate, the vapor soars in the closing number, "Vietrmx21". The climax that this song builds to is so triumphant, so riveting, that you will feel yourself evaporating with the time. It is secretly the single most astounding piece of music Autechre has ever written. I could listen to it all day and I would still be dumbfounded at its majesty. Yes, it's true. This song can only be accurately described as majestic. As LeVar Burton used to say, "But don't take my word for it!". I don't care who you are, your ears must behold this song. If I make it sound like the second coming of Christ, it's only because it might as well be. If the trump does sound, and it isn't playing this tune, Jesus Christ himself wouldn't be able to console my devastation. This song is THAT good.
I will end this full-length novel with an exhortation: PURCHASE THIS EP.
...or just get Tri Repetae++, since Garbage is on the second disk along with Anvil Vapre.

Garbage is emotional without telling you what emotion it is your supposed to be feeling. Whichever one it is, it seems to be one that only Autechre can tap into consistently. This EP is worth it's price just for Vletrmx21, which is likely Autechre's best song ever, but Garbagemx36 and Bronchusevenmx24 are fantastic as well.

This EP (running time:40 mins.) is named "Garbage", because it contains some tracks, ideas and sounds which didn't find their way onto the "Amber" album. In my opinion, this is Autechre's greatest and most consistent 12" release. Layers of convoluted drum patterns are set against psychedelic and strangely floating melodies of otherworldly beauty. This record sounds emotionally moving and ice-cold at the same time. If you like "Amber", you will like this EP even more. Stay away from Autechre's latest releases, which are total trash, and purchase "Garbage" immediately!