Incunabula (Reis)

Autechre | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 28, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warp Records
• ASIN: B0009NSDQQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,383 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Kalpol Introl

2. Bike

3. Autriche

4. Bronchus 2

5. Basscadet

6. Eggshell

7. Doctrine

8. Maetl

9. Windwind

10. Lowride

11. 444

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Undeniably one of the best electronic albums ever, September 12, 2009

By 

M. Fulkerson (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Incunabula (Reis) (Audio CD)

It's strange to read such apathetic reviews of "Incunabula", so I felt compelled to try and explain why this album was, and still is, such a landmark in the world of electronic music.
To truly understand why this album is so brilliant is to realize when it was released. It came out in November, 1993, nearly 16 years ago. I was 21 years old then, and there simply was no music on the earth that sounded like this. There has been tons of electronic music that's been released since then that follow the mold of Autechre, and that sound eventually got slapped the lazy label of the cringe worthy "IDM" tag. Aphex Twin preceded this album by one year with his "Selected Ambient Works" album, but it was a different beast. What makes this album such a special moment in electronic music history was its flawless effort in taking the emotion of Detroit techno and molding it with newer, and distinctly British, elements such as rave culture and ambient house. I have thousands of electronic records in my collection, and I can proudly say that "Incunabula" holds a massively special place in my heart. Acts that I love now such as Boards Of Canada, Two Lone Swordsmen, and just about any artist on the Warp label owe a huge debt to Autechre and this album in particular. When you hear the ravey, junglist sounds of Autechre's debit single "Cavity Job", and compare "Incunabula" to it, you realize what a huge evolutionary step they took. Autechre definitely used electro and ambient sounds to influence them with this album, but they paved a distinctly original path as they mixed in what was to become THE sound of "IDM", or whatever you want to call it. Richard James refers to this kind of music as "braindance", and it's a far more appropriate title.
As someone who was there when it was released, this album, coupled with "Bytes" from Black Dog, caused a huge stir in the music world, and it certainly caused music fans from across the board to stand up and listen more carefully. I cannot recommend this album strongly enough. As I sit here and listen to it nearly 16 years later I can safely say that it hasn't lost any of its creativity, intensity, focus, and sheer brilliance. To be able to add "poignancy" to my list of adjectives gives "Incunabula" that much more resonance and power.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's here that the seeds of Greatness, where Planted...., January 22, 2007

By 

fetish_2000 (U.K.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incunabula (Reis) (Audio CD)

Autechre's debut album is worlds away from the precise Glitch & fractured Techno that they went on to become accomplished producers at. This is an album of stark metallic sounds that sound conventionally at odds with the melodic song structures, that are entirely instrumental. Something else worth noting is that each songs gradually unfolds and uncompresses itself, moving between brooding arrangements and rhythmic drum pattern backed by synth & organ tones. It's strangely compelling in the way that over the course of the frequent six minutes plus tracks, that you'll find yourself growing in appreciation with each strikingly precise track. Think a more detached and synthesized alternative to `Board of Canada' and you'll not be far of. This is galvanising, Cerebral ambient techno music, and along with the sophomore release "Amber" would mark Autechre's more subtle compositions before their successive albums slowly moved into more (although equally accomplished) `Glitch' electronica....unquestionably recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cold, chilled out early 90's techno, November 22, 2008

By 

SystemStructure "System uses Meditate! A goo... (town, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Incunabula (MP3 Download)

This is before they went glitch tech crazy (Gantz Graf which btw has a crazy music video). This is much, much more low key and very chilled out. This is not exactly intense raver over the top insanity. This is more like the kind of music you might listen to in your car on a cloudy, rainy or overcast day. It is thoughtful, considerate, ambient techno that moves at a steady, constant pace. It has a fair amount of energy at times, yet is always well restrained into a deliberate composition. It is like well focused sound experiments that follow a designated standard. Autechre, though they explore strange territory, keep things fully in control here. Unique, innovative electronic music created with a set purpose in mind (or with a clearly set artistic goal) - this is a solid example of the Warp records standard.