Let me begin with a few facts about myself, which seem necessary to put this review in context. 1) I had never known of any ties to Radiohead, before researching this artist and album. Regardless, I could care less about Radiohead, own none of their material, never read an interview, etc. 2) The single Autechre album in my collection prior to this purchase was Tri Repeate. 3) Music is a passion in my life, I make my own, and in my formative years (late 80s) worked in a record store prior to and through college. As a result, I have been exposed to all types of music, and love pretty much the "best" of anything except contemporary R&B and contemporary country. My collection includes an ample amount of Blue Note jazz, trip hop, electronica, trance, etc., alternative rock (does this still exist?), hip hop, metal, etc.

Admitedly, after reading many reviews of this album, I was aprehensive, yet undeniably curious.

First and foremost, I must disagree with many reviewers that characterize this release as "noise," even in the most positive sense of the word. Confield does possess melody, rhythm, harmony, all the supposed fundamentals of what defines music. They have simply been redefined in such simultaneously subtle, brutal and beautiful ways, that they may not be instantly recognizable to the "typical" ear.

This being said, I have only listened to the album three times, since my purchase several days ago. It is far from a "recreational" listen. Like LSD is far from simply a recreational drug, for most. Yet although there is so much going on, I find it somehow serene. Unlike some idm/drill-and-bass/whatever artists, this is never intended to shock or offend. Sonically aggressive, it is still somehow comforting.

Many have described this album as an organic, living soundscape. I agree. I also feel that it taps into some primal forces that are at the origins of all that we call music. It is an experience. Sound sculpture, if you will. Audatory art. Beautiful, through-provoking, undeniable. A journey that places one on many paths, where one simultaniously traverses both forks in the road, through and infinite number of permutations.

It is an egg which embraces me in its life-giving fluid.

I am certain that someone, somewhere, someday will surpass this. In fact, it may have already happened. But I'm not sure how that would be possible.

I've waited 7 years to write this review.
This is Autchre's finest work. I say this without a glance backward.
They have created beautiful and engaging music prior to this and after this, but this is the album that I most identify with the AE signature.
No need to describe what kind of sounds/beats/music Autechre create, most of you know what they are all about.
A beautiful and moving wall of sound.
This album is its own planet, with its own intelligent life crawling and existing within.
The structures here forming, dismantling and then reforming into newer and more fantastic creations, then lumbering on to continue its kaleidoscopic metamorphosis.
A thing of pulsing fractured beauty.
This album has a brain and a conscience, but most importantly, it has a heart that pulses and beats from begining to end.
Jaw-droppingling stunning stuff this Confield is.

Simply, Autechre is one of the most daring acts in music since Miles Davis.... This album is one of their most rebellious and wild.

Artificial, eerie, endearing, and perfect in many ways.

The sounds my ears received on the first listen to this album were a signed and sealed package of genius, delivered first-class to the doorstep of my brain. Confield is a 62-minute power trip through the darkest parts of the electronica realm, composed of the sounds of insane and homicidal machines plotting their escape into the tangible world.

SHORTEST TRACK: Bine
LONGEST TRACK: Uviol (or Mcr Quarter if you have the Japanese version)

The journey begins with "VI Scose Poise," which is like floating along the surface of a vast scrapyard littered with the dead remains of a destroyed planet. It all seems too quiet to last... 10/10

Which brings us to "Cfern," which introduces the creeping spy for the evil side of the story; it follows you around, watching in silence, practicing acts of cunning to stay hidden in the shadows. 9/10

Then the onslaught begins. With "Pen Expers," you're surrounded by gunners trying to shoot you down, and as you frantically make your escape, more come, and more, until eventually you find a window of escape and utilize it riskily, but successfully. 10/10

Enter "Sim Gishel." A bit creepy, this track is like walking through the villains' base. 9/10

With "Parhelic Triangle," you descend into the realm of a menacing pack of predators feasting on their fresh kill. You double back, and quietly you shift your way out of the underground lair before they notice you. Best track on the album. 10+/10

"Bine" is a heavy track. You may go insane before finishing it! 10/10

The future-post-apocalyptic funk of "Eidetic Casein" puts you in the middle of a city of ruins, populated by escapees of the aforementioned robotic insane ward. 9.5/10

By "Uviol," you feel you deserve a break. Break granted; this soft-while-menacing track puts you on an Arctic ice sheet at dusk, sprinting, searching for something: something unknown, but important. 9/10

And the chaos wraps up with "Lentic Catachresis," which escalates from an innocent conversation to a violent quarrel within three minutes, and sticks that way for 6 more minutes until someone breaks a chair over someone else's skull and kills the album. 10/10

OVERALL VERDICT: 10/10

Praise be to Autechre for delivering such a deeply invigorating album.

Most feel that this is Autechre's most experimental album. They may be right, but this doesnt mean that it is in any way inaccesible. Ae have abandoned for the most part the D in IDM on this release. The whole album in my opinion is the most ambient they have done. And the one that rewards most the attentive listener.

The album's opener slowly pulls you into the rest of the tracks.

Cfern stumbles almost in a drunken stupor with a symmetrical type sound. Detuned bell sounding synths are enveloped circling and colorful patches throughout.

Pen Expers is a masterpiece. The piece is actually in 4/4, and starts out with rapid drums swirling around the speakers. The melody doesnt appear for a few minutes, and when it does, creeps through like beams of light trying to escape through dark clouds.

Sam Gishel is the most repetative track. Sounds like the walls are ceeping in on you.

Parhelic Triangle is another uber creeping track. Most of the tracks on this album are creepy, except Pen Expers and Vi Scose. Confield is their darkest album, Parhelic fits right in.

Bine is the track that they probably use that mathematically generative software that everyone is on about. Listening to this with headphones in the dark late at night is kind of like a horror movie. The whole album lends it self to headphones in the dark really.

Eidetic Casein is like a carnaval run by evil clowns.

Uviol is Ae's best ambient track even in my opinion. Airy bells circulate throughout.

Lentic is nuts. Great groove for the first half, followed by controlled glitch crazyness.

Best album ever. Buy it.