After Tri Repetae++, the stunning leap forward with which Autechre astounded the techno world, the duo's fourth proper album came as a disappointment to many.
The waves of polar static and mechanic clicks which distinguished Tri Repetae make Chiastic Slide little more than a variation on a form.
Even worse, the album has too few ideas for its near 70-minute length, and the duo seem content with short loops being repeated and repeated over again for up to ten minutes on a single track.
Though several songs are on a par with Tri Repetae -- and that's being generous -- Chiastic Slide just can't compare with Autechre's earlier work.