At once evocative of mid-to-late 90’s era Autechre with nods to Alec Empire and Apex Twin among other artists such as Arovane and Phonem, but countered with more ambient-abstract textural palettes for a dynamic listen. T. E. S. O. are a Milan-Italy based duo Matteo and Jacopo who mostly self-release digital files, cassette tapes, and CD-R’s of their abstract electro-acoustic atmospheric excursions, melded with construction-site-grade beats. However, they also have releases on Fat Cat, who put out music by exemplary artists. Over A Neutral Landscape tends to alternate between darker ambient atmospheric and frenetic IDM from track to track, but when the two styles blend, the result is marvelous. Case in point is the opening track, ‘Jaz’ which is akin to a robot or machine going into system malfunction and circuit overload whereas “Parte Prima” is an eerie bit with creepy audio samples, perhaps culled from a horror film with intermittent aortic beats. However, “Matin” is a standout track and easily my favorite; a melodic piece with intricate beats haunted with the ghosts of Burial-style dubstep and lovely keyboard hooks. That one goes for inspires repeated listens. In the following ‘Catalogue’, we are taken into subterranean passages through winding, dusty tunnels and sustained horror movie soundtrack tension. Still further yet the following “Pgm-Tik...” and “Akrp...” we are in pure abstract malfunctioning IDM beat territory with frenetic robots and unmaintained machines. Occasionally there are moments of melodic overtone as in the following track “Lezione su nastro”, but around this time we are more into Confield-era Autechre. The final track ‘K’, starts off ambient but over the course of nearly the next twenty minutes, gets noisier and gradually dissolves into madness. Over a Neutral Landscape is a CD-R release with handmade packaging, but that in no way diminishes the album, which is excellent. I look forward to listening to more fine material by T.E.S.O. who are clearly a talented duo bringing new things to the IDM genre.