Shane Parish to Release Album of Autechre Covers on Acoustic Guitar

Around eighteen months ago, my attention was captivated by Shane Parish when he unveiled a mesmerizing fingerstyle guitar rendition of Aphex Twin’s “Avril 14th.” His music journey has continued since, including exploring more experimental sounds as a member of the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet. Today, Parish reveals a new endeavor that follows the spirit of his Aphex Twin cover with Autechre Guitar.

Autechre Guitar is a project that does exactly what it suggests: Parish performs ten songs from the revered electronic music duo Autechre’s catalog on acoustic guitar. Renowned music writer Philip Sherburne begins the liner notes by stating that this particular record “shouldn’t, strictly speaking, be possible,” but despite this, it is a reality and a remarkable one at that.

Palilalia, Orcutt’s label, is releasing the album. Orcutt acknowledges the substantial effort Parish has invested in this project, noting Parish’s knack for transcribing music—pointing out his involvement in creating the score for the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet’s “Music For Four Guitars.” Adapting Autechre’s intricate electronic soundscapes for a solo acoustic guitar has posed a considerable challenge for Parish. The idea of bringing Autechre to the acoustic realm has been brewing in Parish’s mind since the early 2000s, and witnessing it all unfold is truly thrilling. Parish himself reflects on the genesis of the project, recalling how he first encountered Autechre’s album “Amber” in 2002, a moment that sparked the project’s inception.

Throughout the years, Parish has arranged and performed a vast array of songs from various genres. In 2024, he recorded acoustic guitar interpretations of “Europe Endless” by Kraftwerk and “Avril 14th” by Aphex Twin for his album “Repertoire.” These experiences emboldened him to embark on the significant undertaking of interpreting Autechre’s complex sonic landscape in a full-length album format.

Autechre Guitar embodies Parish’s profound admiration for Autechre’s otherworldly music and his aspiration to capture its crystalline beauty through expressive acoustic guitar arrangements. Parish invites listeners to delve into the two initial tracks from Autechre Guitar, “Maetl” and “Eggshell.” The album also features a diverse range of Autechre classics, such as “Eutow,” “Slip,” “Bike,” “Nine,” “Yulquen,” “Lowride,” “Corc,” and “Clipper.”

Autechre Guitar is set to be released on 2/27 via Palilalia. Those eager to explore this unique musical interpretation can pre-order the album now.