Autechre: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|English electronic music duo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

'''Autechre''' ({{IPAc-en|ɔː|ˈ|t|ɛ|k|ər}})<ref>{{cite web |last1last=Tingen |first1first=Paul |title=Autechre |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/autechre |website=Sound on Sound |access-date=14 August 2021 |quote=Autechre pronounce their name as 'autecker'.}}</ref> isare an English [[electronic music]] duo consisting of Rob Brown and Sean Booth, both from [[Rochdale]], [[Greater Manchester]]. Formed in 1987, they are among the best known acts signed to UK electronic label [[Warp Records]], through which all of Autechre's full-length albums have been released beginning with their 1993 debut ''[[Incunabula (album)|Incunabula]]''. They gained initial recognition when they were featured on Warp's 1992 compilation ''[[Artificial Intelligence (compilation album)|Artificial Intelligence]].<ref name="am"/>

Influenced by styles such as 1980s [[electro-funkElectro (music)|electro]] and [[hip hop music|hip hop]], the music of Autechre has evolved throughout their career from early, melodic [[techno]] recordings to later works often considered abstract and experimental, featuring complex composition and few stylistic conventions.<ref name="am">{{cite web|last1last=Cooper|first1first=Sean|title=autechre – biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/autechre-mn0000759998/biography|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=29 January 2017}}</ref> Their work has been associated with the 1990s electronic genre known as [[intelligent dance music]] (IDM),<ref name="pitchfork">[http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/14673/Interview_Interview_Autechre Drew Daniel interview, November 2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716172241/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/14673/Interview_Interview_Autechre |date=16 July 2006 }}—''[[Pitchfork Media]]''</ref> though Booth has dismissed the label as "silly."<ref name="Muggs">{{Cite news|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/2756|title=Review: Autechre - NTS Sessions 1-4|last=Muggs|first=Joe|date=6 June 2016|work=Resident Advisor|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>

Brown and Booth met through [[Manchester]]'s [[graffiti]] scene in 1987 when they both lived in [[Rochdale]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.barcodezine.com/Autechre%20Interview.htm |title = Autechre |year = 2008 |access-date = 23 December 2009 |work = Barcode |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100405073202/http://www.barcodezine.com/Autechre%20Interview.htm |archive-date = 5 April 2010 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all }}</ref> Heavily influenced by [[electro-funk]], [[hip-hop music|hip-hop]], and [[acid house]],<ref name="wir2">David Stubbs, David. "[http://www.deelan.com/music/autechre/wire-230.htm The Futurologists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130913111844/http://www.deelan.com/music/autechre/wire-230.htm |date=13 September 2013 }}", ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]'', April 2003, p. 32</ref> they began trading [[mixtape]]s and then creating their own [[musical composition|compositions]]<ref name="Peel">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/a/autechre/|title=BBC - Radio 1 - Keeping It Peel - Autechre|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref> while collecting a handful of cheap equipment, most notably a [[Casio SK-1]] [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler]] and a [[Roland TR-606]] [[drum machine]].<ref name="SOS97">[http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/nov97/autechre.html "TECHNO-LOGICAL", November 1997]—''[[Sound on Sound]]''</ref> Their first release was ''[[Lego Feet]]'', a 12" recorded under an alias of the same name brought out by Manchester's [[Skam Records]].

Their first release as Autechre was the single "[[Cavity Job]]" in 1991, released on Hardcore Records. Booth and Brown pronounce the name Autechre with a [[Lancashire dialect and accent|Rochdale accent]] ({{IPAc-en|ɔː|ˈ|t|ɛ|k|ə}} {{respell|aw|TEK|ər}}).<ref>[http://www.disquiet.com/autechre.html#soundbite Marc Weidenbaum interview, c. 1997] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209092827/http://www.disquiet.com/autechre.html|date=9 February 2005}}—''Disquiet. com''</ref> However, they have explained that the name can be pronounced in any way one sees fit.<ref name="Peel" /> Booth said: "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."<ref name="SOS04">[http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr04/articles/autechre.htm "Autechre", April 2004]—''Sound on Sound''</ref>

Two more tracks appeared in 1992 under the now finalised Autechre name, on the Warp Records compilation ''[[Artificial Intelligence (compilation album)|Artificial Intelligence]]'', part of the [[Artificial Intelligence (series)|the series of the same name]]. The compilation contained "The Egg", later reworked for their first full-length release under the title "Eggshell".

Two hours of early material was broadcast live on NTS Radio during Warp's 30th -anniversary weekend, called ''Warp Tapes 89-93''. It is distributed for free on Autechre's Bleep Store in digital audio format.

In 1993 Warp released their debut album, ''[[Incunabula (album)|Incunabula]]'', which became a surprise success, reaching the top of the UK Indie Chart.<ref>{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=29 April 2001 |title=Autechre: Mathematics is the new rock'n'roll |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/autechre-mathematics-is--the-new-rocknroll-683346.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331164931/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/autechre-mathematics-is--the-new-rocknroll-683346.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 March 2009 |title=Autechre: Mathematics is the new rock'n'roll |access-date=23 December 2009 | author=Mike Barnes |date=29 April 2001 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> The album had a cool, calculated feel, with clear techno and electro roots, but also showed hints of the rhythmic flourishes and tuned percussion that would later become an important feature of their work. An EP of remixes of ''Incunabula'''s "[[Basscadet]]" was released in 1994, with animated computer graphics for the Bcdtmx version created by Jess Scott-Hunter. This music video featured on [[MTV Europe]]'s Party Zone when Autechre were interviewed during the show in September that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forum.watmm.com/topic/92399-autechre-tv-interview-1994/|title=Autechre TV Interview 1994|website=Forum.watmm.com.|date=11 January 2017 |access-date=4 February 2017}}</ref> 1994 also saw the release of ''[[Amber (Autechre album)|Amber]]'', an album featuring a more [[Ambient music|ambient]], less percussive approach than their debut.<ref name="fact">{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/09/02/the-essential-autechre/2/|work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|title=The Essential... Autechre|access-date=17 August 2014|date=2 September 2013|last=Kalev|first=Maya}}</ref>

The ''[[Anti EP]]'' was released shortly before ''Amber'' and is, as of yet, the only Autechre release to have an explicit purpose: it was a protest against the [[Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994]], which would prohibit raves, defined as any gathering of nine or more people where rave music is played. Rave music was defined as music which "includes sounds wholly or predominantly characterized by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/33/section/63 |title=Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 63 (1) (b) |websiteurl=Legislationhttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/33/section/63 |access-date=527 JulyFebruary 20122024 |website=Legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> The record came wrapped in a seal, on which was printed a legal warning: "Flutter has been programmed in such a way that no bars contain identical beats and can therefore be played at both forty -five and thirty -three revolutions under the proposed new law. However, we advise DJs to have a lawyer and musicologist present at all times to confirm the non -repetitive nature of the music in the event of police harassment."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pattison |first1=Louis |title=How the Political Warning of Autechre’s Anti EP Made it a Warp Records Classic |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/warp-25-autechre-anti-ep/ |access-date=7 November 2024 |work=VICE |date=21 July 2014}}</ref>

In a 2008 interview with [[Pitchfork Media]], Rob Brown mentioned that ''Incunabula'' and ''Amber'', retrospectively, sounded "cheesy".<ref name="pitchfork2"/> Brown later clarified that "they were perhaps more simple, but not in a shit way."<ref>[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XAizLmKun4yF6oBVUhIrewYN-ZiY_9ORckmT-hF93Ho/edit#gid=0:Link "Ask Autechre Anything"]. Docs.google.com, November 2013</ref>

===''Tri Repetae'', ''Chiastic Slide'', and ''LP5'' (1995–1999)===

1995 saw the release of ''[[Tri Repetae]]'', their third album, as well as the EPs ''[[Anvil Vapre]]'' and ''[[Garbage (Autechre EP)|Garbage]]'', featuring a monochrome cover designed by [[The Designers Republic]], with whom Autechre have long held a close association. ''Tri Repetae'' and its associated EPs were combined into a two disc set entitled ''Tri Repetae++'', which was released in the United States. An official promotional video was created for "Second Bad Vilbel" from ''Anvil Vapre'' by English visual artist [[Chris Cunningham]] (his first). The "Second Bad Vilbel" video featured rapidly cut shots of industrial machinery and robotic movement, synchronised with the music. Cunningham later re-edited the video in 2002, following his disappointment with the original: "It was intended to be completely abstract but it didn't quite work out that way".<ref>{{cite web |urllast=Durston |first=Tom http|date=19 April 2009 |title=Chris Cunningham: In Focus |url=https://inverted-audio.com/visual/chris-cunningham-in-focus/ |title = Chris Cunningham: In Focus |access-date =27 24February August 20142024 |publisher = Inverted Audio }}</ref> A two track vinyl-only EP entitled ''[[We R Are Why]]'', was available to buy during certain concerts and via mail order during 1996. Also in 1995, Autechre's track "Nonima" was featured on ''Mind The Gap Volume 5'', a Belgian compilation of electronic music.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Mind-The-Gap-Volume-5/release/238132|title=Various - Mind The Gap Volume 5|website=Discogs|date=22 August 1995 |access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref>

Autechre released three records in 1997: the full -length ''[[Chiastic Slide]]'', and the EPs ''[[Envane]]'', and ''[[Cichlisuite]]'' (pronounced "sickly sweet"). The latter EP consists of five remixed versions of "Cichli" from ''Chiastic Slide''. ''Radio Mix'' was also released in 1997; a rare CD-only promotional recording, it contains an hour-long DJ mix of other artists' tracks, some of them remixed by Autechre, as well as a short interview edited sometimes to the point of incomprehensibility.

An untitled record (typically known as ''[[LP5]]'' or simply ''Autechre'') followed in 1998. It has been seen as a transitional work, with Brown commenting in 2005 that "a lot of people have cited it as a classic Autechre album because it bridges the gap between the guys who liked our old stuff and the guys who got propelled on to our new stuff."<ref>{{cite web |urldate=15 April 2005 |title=Autechre Q&A |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A3900368 |title = Autechre Q&A |date = 15 April 2005 |accessurl-date status= 23 December 2009dead |publisher = BBC| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100121184052/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A3900368 | archive-date= 21 January 2010 | urlaccess-statusdate=23 liveDecember 2009 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

1999 saw the release of [[Peel Session (Autechre EP)|their first Peel session EP]], consisting of three tracks broadcast on [[John Peel]]'s show for [[BBC Radio 1]] in October 1995, as well as a vinyl-only limited edition promotional EP entitled ''[[Splitrmx12]]''. 1999 also saw ''[[EP7]]'', which is classed by the group as an EP despite the CD version being over an hour in length.

===''Confield'', ''Draft 7.30'', and ''Untilted'' (2000–2007)===

The new millennium brought about a drastic change in Autechre's style, demonstrated by ''[[Confield]]'' (2001) and ''[[Draft 7.30]]'' (2003), as well as the ''[[Gantz Graf]]'' EP (2002). The title track from ''Gantz Graf'' inspired an iconic video by British designer [[Alex Rutterford]], featuring an object (or an agglomeration of objects) synchronised to the music as it morphs, pulsates, shakes, and finally dissolves. Rutterford, who had previously created an unofficial video for the ''Tri Repetae'' track "Eutow" as part of the [[Channel 4]] music programme ''Lo-Fi'' in 2001, claimed the idea for the "Gantz Graf" video came during one of his [[LSD]] trips.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://warp.net/records/autechre/alex-rutterford-on-the-creation-of-the-gantz-graf-video |title=Warp / Records / Autechre / Alex Rutterford on the Creation of the Gantz Graf Video |website=Warp.net |access-date=2 May 2012 |archive-date=7 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707032939/http://warp.net/records/autechre/alex-rutterford-on-the-creation-of-the-gantz-graf-video |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Peel Session 2|second]] Autechre Peel session EP was also released in 2002, containing four tracks broadcast in 1999, named by John Peel himself. Autechre released three collaborative albums with Andrew M. McKenzie's [[Hafler Trio]] collective during the following five years (see [[#Collaborations, remixes and covers|collaborations]]).

[[Metacritic]] rated the critical reviews to ''Confield'' as "universal acclaim".<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/autechre/confield |title = Autechre: Confield (2001) Reviews |access-date = 24 December 2008 |website = [[Metacritic]] | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081204194757/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/autechre/confield| archive-date= 4 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> According to Sean Booth, "most of ''Confield'' came out of experiments with [[Max (software)|Max]] that weren't really applicable in a club environment."<ref>{{cite web |urllast=Tingen |first=Paul http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/apr04/articles/autechre.htm|date=April 2004 |title = In producing their complex, abstract electronica, Autechre have taken the idea of the studio as an instrument to new extremes... |access-date url= 24 December 2008 |author = Tingen, Paulhttps://www.soundonsound.com/people/autechre |access-date =27 AprilFebruary 20082024 |publisher website= SoundOnSound.com }}</ref> In contrast, 2003's ''Draft 7.30'' was seen by some<ref>{{cite web |title=Draft 7.30 reviews at Metacritic.com |url = http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/autechre/draft730 |title = Draft 7.30 reviews at Metacritic.com |access-date = 22 December 2009 |website = [[Metacritic]] |archive-date=26 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126092331/http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/autechre/draft730 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as an easier record to grasp. Booth stated in an interview around the release of ''Draft 7.30'' that "[rhythm] doesn't seem to limit us in the way it did when we first started. Now I think we just get it, we're totally fluent in it and can be more expressive."<ref>{{cite news |last=Phelan |first=Laurence |date=6 April 2003 |title=The bleeping noise in your head? That'll be Autechre... |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-bleeping-noise-in-your-head-thatll-be-autechre-593705.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120193251/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/the-bleeping-noise-in-your-head-thatll-be-autechre-593705.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 November 2009 |title=The bleeping noise in your head? That'll be Autechre... |access-date=11 March 2009 |author=Laurence Phelan |date=6 April 2003 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>

''[[Untilted]]'' (a play on the word "untitled"), the duo's eighth album, was released in 2005. It roughly continued the sound of their previous two LPs, though featured compositions that mutated greatly during their duration, typically alternating between passages of ambience and heavily processed, precise beats, such as on "Ipacial Section". Its final track, "Sublimit", is at almost sixteen minutes; Autechre's longest composition to feature on any of their albums until 2016's ''[[elseq 1-51–5]]''. The release of ''Untilted'' was followed by a two-month tour that took the group around Europe, America and Japan, but withdrew them from studio work for an unusual length of time.<ref name="pitchfork2">{{cite web |last=Richardson |first=Mark |date=17 February 2008 |title=Pitchfork: Interviews: Autechre |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/6788-autechre/ |title=Pitchfork: Interviews: Autechre |accessurl-datestatus=22 December 2009live |date=18 February 2008 |work=[[Pitchfork Media]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091126133826/http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/6788-autechre/| |archive-date= 26 November 2009 | urlaccess-statusdate=22 liveDecember 2009 |work=[[Pitchfork Media]]}}</ref> The outcome of this, coupled with a forced change in studio setup, was a gap of three years between releases, longer than ever before.

[[File:Autechre1.jpg|right|thumb|Autechre live in 2007.Princeton NJ, USA, 2001]]

===''Quaristice'', ''Oversteps'', and ''Exai'' (2008–2013)===

Their ninth album, ''[[Quaristice]]'', was released in early 2008. In contrast to ''Untilted'', it is made up of twenty tracks, more than any other Autechre release, each typically around 2–52 to 5&nbsp;minutes in length. The download-only ''[[Quaristice.Quadrange.ep.ae]]'' EP that accompanies it (as well as the ''[[Quaristice#Quaristice (Versions)|Versions]]'' bonus disc and three tracks released exclusively through the Japanese [[iTunes Store]]) brings the total length of music released during their ''Quaristice'' era to over five hours. Among this is the hour-long "Perlence subrange 6-36" that closes the EP. Each track on ''Quaristice'' was edited down from lengthy improvised sessions between Booth and Brown,<ref name="pitchfork2"/> some of which were released in longer versions on ''Quaristice. Quadrange.ep.ae''. Although Sean Booth has stated that the [[Free Lossless Audio Codec|FLAC]] release of ''Quaristice'' is the actual product,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/autechre-quaristice |title=Autechre – Quaristice : Exclusive Feature |access-date=11 March 2009 |date=6 February 2008 |work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090215050121/http://www.clashmusic.com/feature/autechre-quaristice| archive-date= 15 February 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> the album was also released by Warp Records as a double LP and a single CD as well as an elaborate two CD edition by Warp Records. Limited to only 10001,000 copies,<ref>{{cite web|date=30 January 2008 |title=Autechre – Quaristice |website=Autechre.ws |url=http://www.autechre.ws/quaristice/mail/ |access-date=30 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201091637/http://www.autechre.ws/quaristice/mail/ |archive-date=1 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and containing both the regular album and ''Quaristice (Versions)'', this special edition was packaged in a photo-etched steel case. It sold out within 12 hours of being announced.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://warp.net/records/autechre/quaristice-special-edition-preorder-and-early-bleep-release |title=Quaristice Special Edition Preorder and Early Bleep Release |access-date=23 December 2009 |date=29 January 2008 |website=Warp.net |archive-date=24 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224225753/http://warp.net/records/autechre/quaristice-special-edition-preorder-and-early-bleep-release |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 13 January 2010, Warp Records announced ''[[Oversteps (album)|Oversteps]]'', Autechre's tenth album. Originally slated to be released in March, it was released a month early in digital form on Bleep.com to those who preordered it; the CD and deluxe vinyl editions were released on 22 March 2010. A two-month European tour occurred in support of the album, followed by limited shows in Japan and Australia, the latter breaking a 15-year absence. Autechre then compiled a mix for the magazine ''[[FACTFact (United KingdomUK magazine)|FACT]]'', released in February of the same year, that consisted of tracks by artists such as [[J Dilla]] and [[Necrophagist]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2016/06/23/fact-classic-mix-autechre/|title=FACT Classic Mix: Autechre|first=John|last=Twells|date=23 June 2016|website=Fact Magazine}}</ref> On 25 May 2010, Warp Records announced the ten track ''[[Move of Ten]]'', an EP by the duo in conjunction with the release of ''Oversteps''. The digipack CD and the two 12" vinyl version, as well as a digital download, was released on 12 July 2010.

In April 2011 a boxset of EPs entitled ''EPs 1991 – 2002'' (excluding ''Move of Ten'') was released, with artwork from the Designers Republic. It includes a CD copy of their debut EP, ''Cavity Job'', the first time it has been released on the format.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://warp.net/records/autechre/eps-1991-2002-download-now-deluxe-cd| title=EPs 1991 - 2002 : Download now, deluxe 5xCD released April |access-date=19 March 2011 |date=15 February 2011 |website=Warp.net|archive-date=18 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218174314/http://warp.net/records/autechre/eps-1991-2002-download-now-deluxe-cd|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011 as part of Warp's 'Made in Japan' relief concert for the victims of the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|2011 Sendai earthquake]], an eleven-minute piece was released entitled '"6852'", possibly part of a previous live recording.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://warp.net/records/lfo/atp-presents-made-in-japan-benefit-concert| title='Made in Japan relief concert' |access-date=20 November 2020 |website=Warp.net}}</ref>

The eleventh studio album entitled ''[[Exai]]'' was released on 5 March 2013, having been available for download from the official website as of Valentine's Day, 14 February 2013.<ref name=spin>{{cite journal | url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/autechre-new-two-hour-album-exai/ | author=McGovern, Kyle | title=Autechre Ready Two-Hour, Double-Disc Album 'Exai' | journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] | date=13 December 2012 | access-date=13 December 2012}}</ref> The duo announced their 14th EP ''[[L-Event]]'' on 17 September 2013, which was released on 28 October 2013.<ref name=ae>{{cite web|url=http://autechre.ws/l-event-ep/|title=Autechre: L-event|publisher=Autechre|date=18 September 2013|access-date=18 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928062229/http://autechre.ws/l-event-ep/|archive-date=28 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During 2015, the duo embarked on a tour across North America, marketed as AENA. The tour was officially announced on the Warp Records website on 25 May 2015 but promotional material (specifically the logos for the upcoming tour) can be found that was released on 13 August 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://autechre.ws/|title=AENA: LIVE|publisher=Autechre|date=25 May 2015|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://warp.net/news/autechre-north-america-tour-2015/|title=Autechre North America Tour 2015|publisher=Warp Records|date=25 May 2015|access-date=2 November 2015|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019055718/http://warp.net/news/autechre-north-america-tour-2015/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AutechreLive/status/499667328678633472|title=#ae|publisher=Warp Records|date=13 August 2014|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> On 29 October 2015 members of the Autechre mailing list were given invite-only permission to download a live recording from the duo titled ''{{not a typo|[[AE_LIVE]]}}'', a collection of 4four one-hour-long [[soundboard recording]]s of a series of concerts that took place in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.watmm.com/topic/89167-ae-live/|title=AE_LIVE|website=Forum.watmm.com|date=29 October 2015|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> On 1 November 2015 a Bleep.com substore opened up giving the public the ability to purchase and download the collection.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autechre.bleepstores.com/index|title=AE_STORE_|website=Autechre.bleepstores.com|date=1 November 2015|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/AE_STORE_/status/660817023757193216|title=AE_STORE_|publisher=AE_STORE_|date=1 November 2015|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref>

On 13 May 2016 a new Autechre track by the title of "feed1" was played on [[Tom Ravenscroft]]'s late evening show on [[BBC 6 Music]] after an announcement made on the Warp Records Twitter feed which was accompanied by a piece of geometric album art.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WarpRecords/status/731183045575905284|title=Autechre. 9PM BBC 6 Music|publisher=Warp Records|date=13 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hypetrak.com/2016/05/autechre-feed1/|title=Autechre Release New Single "feed1"|publisher=Hypetrak|date=15 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref> On 18 May 2016 a second new track was played on KSUA, an Alaskan student radio station, again announced in a tweet by Warp. Afterwards, Warp released the snippet of the Autechre song on their soundcloud[[Soundcloud]] account under the title "c16 deep tread".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WarpRecords/status/732995434352873472|title=Autechre. 12pm (ASKT)|publisher=Hypetrak|date=15 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/WarpRecords/status/733058223566139392|title=Autechre • c16 deep tread|publisher=Hypetrak|date=15 May 2016|access-date=19 May 2016}}</ref> On 19 May 2016, their twelfth studio album, ''[[elseq 1-5]]'', on Autechre's AE_STORE_ page. Warp Records have stated that there are no plans to release the album on a physical medium, making the album Autechre's first digital-only studio album release.

On 6 April 2018, a livestream of new material was broadcast on [[NTS Radio]], marking the first of four live streams released every week of the month. On 9 April 2018, it was unveiled that the sessions, totalling eight hours of material, would be packaged and released as ''[[NTS Sessions 1–4]]'' with a listing on the AE_STORE, including 12xLP and 8xCD boxsets. The livestreams coincided with the announcement of live sets in Japan and Australia, including their first -ever performance in [[Tasmania]] at the [[Dark Mofo]] Festival.

In November 2018, [[Richard Devine]] joined the user chat room of the electronic music forum We Are The Music Makers and hinted at an [[Easter egg (media)|easter egg]] on the AE_STORE website.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://forum.watmm.com/topic/96021-ae-store-eastre-egg/page-1|title= AE_store eastre egg|website=Forum.watmm.com|date= 11 November 2018|access-date= 13 November 2018}}</ref> Following a partially hidden link, the user could download instrument parameter files for [[Elektron (company)|Elektron]]'s hardware which Autechre used for the 2008 Quaristice tour. When loaded into a [[Monomachine]] or Machinedrum these files allowed the user to create their own Quaristice tour soundboard.

===''SIGNSign'', ''Plus'' and ''PLUSAE_2022–'' (2020–present)===

In April 2020, Autechre released ''[[AE LIVE 2016/2018]]'', a set of tour recordings from those respective years. On 1 September 2020, Warp Records announced that fans should sign up to the Autechre mailing list. TheShortly following dayafter, Autechre announced their next album, ''[[Sign (Autechre album)|SIGNSign]]'', which was released on 16 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=SIGN|title=SIGN|url=https://autechre.warp.net//|access-date=2020-09-02|website=SIGNWarp}}</ref>

In 2020 interviews, the duo stated that they startedhad been recording material for ''SIGNSign'' fromsince the summer of 2018, after their Australian tour, up to February that year. Booth remarked that the songs were more emotional than other works, and that this was the first album recorded offwith their revamped systems. <ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |last1last=Pareles |first1first=Jon |author1author-link=Jon Pareles |title=Autechre Worked in Isolation for Decades. Now It's Unintentionally Timely. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/arts/music/autechre-sign-interview.html |url-status=live|access-date=29 December 2020 |work=[[The New York Times]] |issue=58846 |date=13 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014051235/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/13/arts/music/autechre-sign-interview.html |archive-date=14 October 2020 |location=[[Internet Archive]] |page=C7 |language=English}}</ref> <ref name="FrereJones">{{cite web |last1last=Frere-Jones |first1first=Sasha |author1author-link=Sasha Frere-Jones |title=Autechre + Sign |url=https://substack.sashafrerejones.com/p/autechre-sign |website=S/FJ |publisher=[[Substack]] |access-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229213134/https://substack.sashafrerejones.com/p/autechre-sign |archive-date=29 December 2020 |location=[[Internet Archive]] |language=English |url-status=live}}</ref>

Another album titled ''[[Plus (Autechre album)|PLUSPlus]]'' was surprise released digitally on 28 October, with physical and streaming releases planned on 20 November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleep.com//release/209219-autechre-plus-|title=Autechre - PLUS . Bleep.|access-date=20 November 2020|website=Bleep.com}}</ref>

A wide variety of influences have been noted as discernible in Autechre's music. The duo's roots in [[graffiti|tagging]], early [[hip- hop]] and [[electro music]], and [[b-boy]] culture in general are still evident, with many reviews noting hip- hop rhythms—sometimes heavily obscured or processed, and sometimes explicit even in later work. All of Autechre's live webcasts have featured large amounts of early hip- hop and electro. In a review of ''[[Oversteps (album)|Oversteps]]'', ''[[The Wire (magazine)|The Wire]]'' noted "Treale" as being "a reminder of Booth and Brown's musical apprenticeship as teenage B-boys".<ref name='Wire March 2010'>{{cite journal|title=Review: 'Autechre – Oversteps'|journal=The Wire: Adventures in Modern Music|date=March 2010|first=Chris|last=Sharp|issue=313|page=98}}</ref> As Autechre's music and studio setup evolved, reviews started to note influences from farther afield; experiments in and [[generative music|generative synthesis]], [[musique concrète]], and [[FM synthesis]] drew comparisons with [[Iannis Xenakis]], [[Karlheinz Stockhausen]] and [[Bernard Parmegiani]] from critics such as [[Paul Morley]].<ref name='paulmorley'>{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/03536-autechre-album-details-paul-morley-essay |title=Autechre |access-date=4 March 2010 |last=Morley |first=Paul |work=The Quietus |date=13 January 2010 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20100121162505/http://thequietus.com/articles/03536-autechre-album-details-paul-morley-essay| archive-date= 21 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The group have mentioned musique concrète composers [[Tod Dockstader]] and [[Edgard Varèse]] as influences.<ref name="wir2"/> Autechre also cite [[Coil (band)|Coil]] as a major influence, with an unfinished collaboration of unknown completeness occurring around the release of ''[[LP5]]'' and ''[[EP7]]''.<ref name='Wire 1998'>{{cite journal|title=Listening Room|journal=The Wire: Adventures in Modern Music|year=1998}}</ref> Chris Richards of ''The Washington Post'' stated in 2015 that Autechre create "some of the most complicated music you could ever hope to drown in" and are "recognized as pioneers in [[experimental music]]".<ref>{{Cite news|title = Autechre's maneuvers in the dark|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/10/08/autechres-maneuvers-in-the-dark/|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = 8 October 2015|access-date = 10 October 2015|issn = 0190-8286|language = en|first = Chris|last = Richards}}</ref> Autechre’sAutechre's work has been described as “music"music that sounds like it designed itself, with audio fractals that change constantly like living organisms.”"<ref name="fractal">{{Cite news|url=https://musicwww.avclub.com/autechre-confield-1798197031|title=Review - Autechre: Confield|last=Klein|first=Joshua|date=19 April 2002|work=AV Club|access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref>

Booth and Brown record tracks collaboratively, but in separate studios with identical software and equipment. The process, as Booth describes in a 2020 interview with the''The New York Times'', involves one sending a track to another, which is sent back with revisions before it is deemed finished. Brown remarks that, although they "behave differently, we sometimes try to achieve the same goal, but with greatly differing approaches (as) we really do get off on the fact that we’rewe're on the same page most of the time.”"<ref name="NYTimes" />

===Equipment===

Autechre use many different [[digital synthesizer|digital synthssynth]]s and a few [[analog synthesizer|analogue synthssynth]]s in their production,<ref name="SOS97" /> as well as analogue and digital [[drum machinesmachine]]s, such as the [[Roland R-8]], [[mixing console|mixers]], [[effects unit]]s and [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]]. They have also made extensive use of a variety of computer based [[Music sequencer|sequencers]], [[software synthesiser]]s, and other applications as a means of controlling those synths and processing the synthesised sounds. Much of the hardware and software they use has been customised by the band themselves.<ref name="SOS97" /> Autechre have also experimented in depth with development environments such as [[Max (software)|Max/MSP]],<ref name="SOS04" /> and [[Kyma (sound design language)|Kyma]],<ref name="SOS04" /> amongst others, from 1997 onwards. From 2005 until 2009, they have used the [[Elektron (company)|Elektron]] Machinedrum and [[Elektron Monomachine|Monomachine]], alongside [[Akai MPC]] and [[Nord Modular]] in their live performances.<ref name="cdm">[http://createdigitalmusic.com/2005/04/18/new-machinedrum-percussion-synth-autechre/ "New Machinedrum Percussion Synth", April 2005]—''CreateDigitalMusic. com''</ref> It has also been rumoured that Autechre have used military equipment in their work.<ref name="wir1" /> 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 Acoustics(company)|AKG]] C1000 microphone."<ref>[httphttps://forum.watmm.com/index.php?showtopic=topic/30687-interview-with-sean-booth/#soundbite Interview with Sean Booth, Jan 2008]—''Reverb Magazine''</ref>

Other machines that Autechre have repeatedly mentioned in interviews are appreciated for their [[User interface|interface]] and aesthetics as much as their sound, including the [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] [[TR-606]] and [[MC-202]], and the [[Nord Lead]]. According to the 2016 interview to [[Resident Advisor]], both members haven't bought a piece of equipment "in the last 5 years", making MAXMax/MSP a primary production method, with Sean Booth stating that "in Max I can generally build the thing I need, and if I don't know how to do that it'll generally be worthwhile learning." Booth said that they use MAX as MIDI "only handles a limited set of information" and that instruments like the piano "separates the artist from the string."<ref name="FrereJones" />

Both Booth and Brown are known to have been heavily involved with the majority of releases by the mysterious [[Gescom]] collective, although Booth admitted in an interview that around 20- to 30 musicians overall are connected with what he describes as an "umbrella project". Three elaborately packaged albums (''æ³o & h³æ'', ''æo³ & ³hæ'', and ''ha³oe & ah³eo'') have been made by Autechre in collaboration with Andrew M. McKenzie's ongoing [[Hafler Trio]] project. These albums are significantly more minimal than any other Autechre release, featuring dense, claustrophobic and noisy [[drone music|drones]]. A track called "Elephant Gear", credited to both Autechre and Canadian [[breakcore]] musician [[Venetian Snares]] under the alias AEVSVS, was released on a compilation in tribute to [[Elektron (company)|Elektron]] co-founder Daniel Hansson, who died in a car accident. Autechre have collaborated with several artists for live performances, including [[Zoviet France]],<ref name="wir1" /> [[Fennesz]] and [[Roedelius]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fm4v2.orf.at/static/misc/djs_list.htm|title=FM4|website=Fm4v2.orf.at|access-date=24 August 2018}}</ref> ''3. Telepathics Meh In-Sect Connection'', an album by Sean Booth in collaboration with [[Mika Vainio]] of [[Pan Sonic]] and [[Kouhei Matsunaga]], was released in early 2010.

The compilation CD ''The Only Blip Hop Record You Will Ever Need, Vol.1'', issued in 2002 by David Byrne's Luaka Bop Records, contains a cover version of "Gnit" performed by Marie + Scratch. It is performed using only human voice samples.

The band [[Pink Freud]] has performed covers of several Autechre numbers, including "[[Basscadet]]", "[[Chiastic Slide|Cichli]]," and "[[Bike (Autechre song)|Bike]]". These live performances are available on [[YouTube]].

* A nearly nine-hour live mix on 10{{ndash}}1110–11 April 2005 (GMT) to coincide with the release of ''[[Untilted]]''.

* A twelve-hour live stream on 23{{ndash}}2423–24 February 2008 to coincide with the release of ''[[Quaristice]]''.

* A twelve-and-a-half-hour live stream spanning 6{{nbsp}}pm{{snd}} to 6:30{{nbsp}}am (GMT) on 2{{ndash}}32–3 March 2010 to coincide with the release of ''[[Oversteps (album)|Oversteps]]''.

* Two separate ten-hour live streams from 8{{nbsp}}pm to 6{{nbsp}}am (GMT) on 2 and 32–3 March 2013 to coincide with the release of ''[[Exai]]''<ref>{{cite web |title=Autechre Radio — Sat 02 Mar 2013 |url=https://autechre.mixlr.com/recordings/110087 |website=Mixlr |access-date=31 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Autechre Radio — Sun 03 Mar 2013 |url=https://autechre.mixlr.com/recordings/110452 |website=Mixlr |access-date=31 December 2022}}</ref>.

* A 12-hour mix via radio -streaming platform Mixlr on 13 October 2019.

* OnA Octoberbroadcast 8,of ''SIGNSign'' wason broadcast8 onOctober to the Autechre website.

* A 5.5 ½-hour -long mix on Mixlr was streamed on 30 December 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=Artificial Intelligence: 1992 Contextual Mix |url=https://autechre.mixlr.com/recordings/1977679 |website=Mixlr |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref>.

* ''[[Sign (Autechre album)|SIGNSign]]'' (2020)

* ''[[Plus (Autechre album)|PLUSPlus]]'' (2020)

* {{AllmusicAllMusic|class=artist|id=p45028}}