ABSTRACT
This article approaches the English experimental electronic dance music group Autechre
through the talk and music-making of its fans. I argue that Autechre fans are perceptive
listeners who perform their curiosity and knowledge online in a variety of ways. Drawing
on two sets of case studies derived from music technology user forum discussions and
amateur instructional videos on YouTube, I show how the techno-geek discourses and
musical products of Autechre fans help build understanding of the group’s sounds,
equipment, and techniques. Contrary to Autechre’s insistence that its music is abstract and
without any meaning, the work of its fans suggests that it is about the creative process itself.
Introduction
