Autechre are to be admired for sticking firmly to their principles, making music that is intense and instinctive, regardless of what people think. It’s through this approach that they have secured such a large and loyal following, who admire their journeys into the sonic unknown. So it is again with ‘Oversteps’, an approachable record that gives out its many rewards to the listener prepared to make an effort. There are moments here of pure ambience, sometimes made of industrial workings in the way Brian Eno might have worked, or other times with beats that feel like they’ve been vacuum packed. The brooding synths of ‘ilanders’ and the thrilling, march-like beats of ‘d-sho qub’ remind us there is always an edge to the duo’s music, while ‘see on see’ is the musical equivalent of a meteor shower. Whether in far off beauty or in up close, personal intimacy, Autechre continue to make music that cannot be ignored. There’s no-one like them in electronic music, for which we should be profoundly grateful.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
