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Autechre

 
Artist: Autechre
  • Formed: 1991, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
  • Genres: Electronica
  • Representative Albums: "Tri Repetae++," "Tri Repetae," "LP5"

Biography

Like Aphex Twin, Autechre are about as close to being techno superstars as the tenets of the genre and the limitations of its audience will allow. Through a series of full-length works and a smattering of EPs on Warp, Clear, and their own Skam label, the group have consistently garnered the praise of press and public alike. Unlike many of their more club-bound colleagues, however, Autechre's Sean Booth and Rob Brown have roots planted firmly in American electro, and though the more mood-based, sharply digital texture of their update may seem to speak otherwise, it was through early twelves like Egyptian Lover's "Egypt, Egypt," Grandmaster Flash's "Scorpio," and "Pretty" Tony Butler's "Get Some" that their combined aesthetic began to form.

Booth and Brown met through a mutual friend, trading junked-up pause-button mixtapes of their favorite singles back and forth. Happening onto some bargain-basement analog gear through questionable circumstances, the pair began experimenting with their own music before they were out of high school. After some disastrous experiences with a few small labels, the pair sent a tape off to Warp Records, whose early releases by Sweet Exorcist, Nightmares on Wax, and B12 were announcing a new age in U.K.-based techno (and one that Autechre would become a key component in). Releasing a handful of early singles through the label, Autechre's first stabs were collected on their debut full-length, Incunabula, as well as the ten-inch box-set remix EP Basscadet. Subsequent albums would reach a wider audience through stateside reissue, first on Wax Trax!/TVT, later on Nothing (the label managed by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor), and finally through a stateside branch of Warp. Although stylistically rooted, affectations for the ponderous extend beyond their name and track titles ("C/Pach," "Bronchusevenmx24") with the basic premise of their approach being music without a whole lot of stylistic baggage but plenty of DSP'ed-to-death hyper-programming -- easily one of the most distinctive sounds in the world of electronica.

In addition to Autechre, Booth and Brown have released material as Gescom on their own Skam imprint and through the Clear label, most notably The Sounds of Machines Our Parents Used EP on the latter. The group have also provided a number of memorable remixes (often times more memorable than their original material) for artists including Palmskin Productions, Slowly, Mike Ink, DJ Food, Scorn, Skinny Puppy, Tortoise, Phoenecia, and Various Artists. ~ Sean Cooper, All Music Guide
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Autechre

Rob Brown and Sean Booth performing live as Autechre in 2007
Background information
Origin Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England
Genres IDM
Glitch
Years active 1987–present
Labels Warp
Skam
Wax Trax!
TVT
Associated acts Gescom
Lego Feet
Website Autechre at Warp Records
Members
Sean Booth
Rob Brown

Autechre are an English electronic music group consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both natives of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1987, the duo are one of the most prominent acts signed with Warp Records, a label known for its pioneering electronic music. While most associated with IDM (intelligent dance music), Booth and Brown are ambivalent in relating their sound to established genres.[1] Their music has exhibited a gradual shift in aesthetic throughout their career, from their earlier work with clear roots in techno and electro to later albums that are often considered more experimental in nature, featuring complex patterns of rhythm and subdued melodies. Quaristice, their most recent album, was released in 2008.

Contents

History

Brown and Booth formed the group in 1987 when they both lived in Rochdale. Originally meeting through Manchester's graffiti scene, heavily influenced by electro and hip hop[2] they began trading mixtapes between each other, and gradually moved on to their own compositions[3] while collecting a handful of cheap equipment, most notably a Casio SK-1 sampler and a Roland TR-606 drum machine.[4] Since then they have employed a wide variety of electronic instruments to create an evolving style.

Booth and Brown pronounce the name Autechre with a Rochdale accent (/ɔːˈtɛkər/ aw-TEK-ər).[5] However, they have explained that the name can be pronounced in any way one sees fit.[3] Booth explains: "The first two letters were intentional, because there was an 'au' sound in the track, and the rest of the letters were bashed randomly on the keyboard. We had this track title for ages, and we had written it on a cassette, with some graphics. It looked good, and we began using it as our name. "[6] They are also commonly referred to by the abbreviation "Ae" or "æ".

Autechre have also recorded under various pseudonyms. One of the duo's earliest recordings was a 12" under the alias "Lego Feet", released in 1991 on Skam Records. The majority of Gescom releases, most of them on Skam, have been attributed to Booth and Brown, among other artists. Autechre helped initiate the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival in 2000, and were responsible for curating the 2003 festival.

Autechre have been involved with radio since their early days, originally spinning for IBC Radio, a Manchester pirate radio station in 1991, where they had their own show playing Belgian techno alongside their own demos. [7] Later they would appear as part of Gescom for their weekly "Disengage" show on Manchester's Kiss FM. [8] On two occasions Autechre have streamed webcasts from their website. The first was on 10 April 2005, and lasted a little over 7 and a half hours. The most recent took place on 23 February 2008, and was exactly 12 hours long. Both began at 8pm GMT, and featured an eclectic range of music.

In 2009 they contributed a cover of an LFO song to the Warp20 (Recreated) compilation, as well as having their song "Tilapia" covered by John Callaghan.

Music

Much of Autechre's music has a strong focus on complex rhythm, driving percussion, and meticulous sequencing. Often unusual rhythmic loops repeat and change incrementally, with the music constantly in transition. Sometimes patterns are set against one another, implying several time signatures at once. Later work has been described as experimental and abstract, in contrast to the more club-friendly and conventional early 1990s releases.

Reactions to their music have varied. Many of their tracks contain complex or chaotic rhythms and close harmonies which some hear as random and noisy. Fans of their recent work tend to find the value of their music to lie in its unique fusion of rhythmic and melodic elements, i. e. melodic percussive sounds, and enharmonic synthesizer patches implying numerous rhythmic and melodic lines and chord structures simultaneously. Another recurring element in Autechre's work has been the use of extremely fast sequencing or retriggering to create a fragmented, grainy effect.

Methods


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True to their early electro roots, Autechre use a wide array of analog synths in their production,[4] as well as analog and digital drum machines, mixers, effects units and samplers. They have also made extensive use of a variety of computer based sequencers, softsynths, and other applications as a means of controlling those synths and processing the synthesized sounds. Much of the hardware and software they use has been customized by the band themselves.[4] Autechre have also experimented in depth with development environments such as Max/MSP (invented by software pioneer Miller Puckette),[6] and Kyma[6] – amongst others – from 1997 onwards, though it is unclear which are still in use. From 2005, they have used the Elektron Machinedrum and Monomachine, alongside Akai MPC and Nord Modular in their live performances.[9]It has also been rumoured that Autechre have used military equipment in their work.[8] In 2008, Sean Booth reported that if he were locked in a cell for a year with only one piece of software and one piece of hardware, he'd "probably take a copy of Digital Performer and an AKG C 1000 microphone. "[10]

Other machines that Autechre have repeatedly mentioned in interviews are appreciated for their interface and aesthetics as much as their sound, including the Roland TR-606 and MC-202, and the Nord Lead.

Autechre sometimes use generative techniques,[6] most notably on Confield and EP7.

Collaborations

Autechre have collaborated with several artists for live performances, including Zoviet France [8], Fennesz and Roedelius [11], as well as recorded collaborations with The Hafler Trio and Venetian Snares.

Discography

Albums

EPs

Singles, promos, and remixes

  • 1991: "Cavity Job" (12" vinyl single limited to 1,000 copies)
  • 1994: Basscadet (five remixes – six on vinyl – of "Basscadet" from Incunabula; also known as Basscad) UK #56
  • 1996: "We R Are Why" (12" vinyl promo.)
  • 1997: Radio Mix (hour-long DJ remix of own and other artists' tracks)
  • 1999: "Splitrmx12" (12" vinyl promo limited to 3,000 copies)
  • 2008: "Quaristice (Versions)" (Limited to 1,000 copies, contains remixes of 11 Quaristice tracks)
  • 2008: Digital Exclusive (3-track EP available only in the Japanese iTunes Store)

See also

References

External links


 
 
Learn More
Reform (1994 Album by Higher Intelligence Agency)
Qtio [CD/12"] (2001 Album by Brothomstates)
The Sound of Machines Our Parents Used (1995 Album by Gescom)

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