Autechre
|
|
Autechre are an English electronic music group. They are usually considered to belong to the IDM genre, although Autechre themselves don't consider their sound to belong to any genre. Two friends, Rob Brown and Sean Booth, formed the group in 1987 when they both lived in Rochdale. Booth and Brown have explained that the name Autechre can be pronounced in any way anyone sees fit. They pronounce it "Awe-TEK-er." They are also often referred to by the nickname "Ae." It has been claimed from various quarters, but not confirmed, that the name Autechre comes from Audio architecture or Aural technology research.
Their music is highly rhythmic, but the complexity and occasional irregularity of the beats makes their music more suited for home listening than for dancing. Later work has been explicitly experimental and abstract. Reactions to their music vary; newcomers may find it random or chaotic, but repeated listens reveal it to be highly structured. This may be the result of translating a particular sound into a stream of patterns or sequences that are written in a software editing program. A complicated mathematical formula called an algorithm can be used to carry the sound in a process of decay or growth, creating a soundscape that rarely sounds the same in any one of the particular sequences; "chaotic," etc. Even fans disagree in their interpretations of these soundscapes. Some describe Autechre's music as cold and austere, whereas others perceive a warmth and sentimentality that informs even the most cerebral pieces.
True to their early techno roots, Autechre utilize a wide array of analog synths in their production. They also make extensive use of Max/MSP/Jitter as a means of controlling those synths and processing the synthesized sounds. In response to comments about their unique sound, Autechre argue that given the incredible range of tools available to modern composers, especially in the electronic genres, it is incomprehensible that any band should "sound like" any other band.
Autechre have also been known to record under various pseudonyms, possibly as a way of escaping from the attentions of the media and the obsessive Autechre fanbase. Likely contenders are Lego Feet and Velocity Kendall, Two 12" released in 1991 and 1995 on Skam Records. They are also strongly involved in the Gescom project. Autechre also helped initiate the music festival All Tomorrow's Parties in 2000 and were responsible for curating the 2003 festival.
Discography
Albums
- Incunabula (1993)
- Amber (1994)
- Tri Repetae (1995)
- Chiastic Slide (1997)
- LP5 (1998)
- Confield (2001)
- Draft 7.30 (2003)
- Untilted (2005)
EPs/singles
- Cavity Job (1991)
- Basscadet (1993)
- Anti EP (1994)
- Garbage (1995)
- Anvil Vapre (1995)
- We R Are Why / Are Y Are We? (1996)
- Envane (1997)
- Cichli Suite (1997)
- Peel Sessions (1998; recordings originally made for John Peel's radio programme in 1995)
- EP7 (1999; Two EP's (7.1 and 7.2) combined into one album-length-release)
- Splitrmx12 (1999)
- Peel Sessions 2 (2000; recordings originally made for John Peel's radio programme in 1999)
- Gantz Graf (2002; also released as a DVD)
Also responsible for upwards of 40 remixes, from Tortoise to Merzbow to Saint Etienne.
See also
External links
- An Autechre visual discography (http://membres.lycos.fr/autechre_gescom/index.htm)
- Autechre fansite, with a comprehensive catalogue review and F.A.Q. (http://lonelymachines.org/)
- Rob Brown interview with BBC Collective (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A3895806)
- Sean Booth interview with Pitchforkmedia (http://pitchforkmedia.com/interviews/a/autechre-05/)
- DMoz.org category: 'Autechre' (http://dmoz.org/Arts/Music/Bands_and_Artists/A/Autechre/)
- A site which analyses the titles of Autechre's songs. (http://www.rydia.net/~pyrop/autechre/)