NTS Sessions 1-4 (compilation album)
by Autechre

Eight – count ’em, eight – hours of glitchy new material fill this 4-disc album by Autechre, and it may be the best thing they’ve ever done. Recorded during their residency at NTS radio in April, this collection is a great opportunity to hear the Rochdalian duo at their most uninhibited, the mischievous rhythm games of their 1994 Anti EP now writ large. If this turned out to be some alien civilisation’s riposte to the Arecibo message, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Finally got to finish this behemoth since I had free time to tackle this. And for my first verdict, just damn. First off I need to talk about All End. Like, how do you make an hour long track not only transcendental but just addicting. It sounds like there take of an Gas album. And if there was a 4 hour album of 4 tracks being an hour long, I would be all for it. Hell I was getting parallels to Pop with the qualities that album shares but also got cues from the end of Left Side Drive.

And that's just one track alone. There is a lot of more to talk about like Gonk Steady One which is a dope banger especially how they create these striking tones that can emulate both guitar and organ tones. Then I could mention how Gonk Steady One to Four Of Seven to 32a Reflected transition not only makes sense but goes from a crazy bop to a chilled and somewhat glitchy ambient sound piece.

Then I could mention how fLh sounds like three tracks in one but is quite addicting.

There is so much more I could go on about this album to the point it could be a book or Master thesis on why this is not only jaw dropping but make me wonder when this will get old. If there was a complaint I could think of for this album would be how a couple of tracks could be a little annoying or doesn't impact me compare to the better tracks. Or more importantly how the length could be a turn off for some individuals or maybe want to complete the entire album like me.

For other users that haven't listen to this due to the length, split up your listening time. I was able to listen to NTS 1 and 2 yesterday and NTS 3 and 4 today. That can be somewhat ridiculous. Then I would say listen a session a day and write down notes on how you personally feel. Otherwise I love this album and this is a top 10 for 2018 and one of the best albums of the decade. Now all that's left for me in the album department is Elseq.

A thoroughly overwhelming 8 hours and one of their strongest statements.

From JulianR 10/10/2018 04:38 | #222303

They ain't playin around

An extraordinary accomplishment.

8 hours?!? You know what, this as well as Elseq I think I will have to listen to a Cd per day. Otherwise I might go insane. However, I am loving clustro casual a lot. So I might get to this venture sooner than later. Damn, now I wish time travel existed. Because I would love to see the look of peoples faces when they where shitting themselves that Confield was hard to handle. Mentioning that they would get albums that were 2 to 4 to now 8 hours would definitely put some people into rehab.